1 Mar 2013Case Report
Intercostal muscle flap to protect the bronchial stump in pediatric lobectomy for lung abscess
Gabriele Lisi 1Giuseppe Lauriti 2Valentina Cascini 3Achille Lococo 4Pierluigi Chiesa 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Pediatric Surgery, “G. d’Annunzio”, University of Chieti, Pescara, Italy; Unit of Pediatric Surgery, “Spirito Santo” Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
2 Unit of Pediatric Surgery, “Spirito Santo” Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
3 Department of Pediatric Surgery, “G. d’Annunzio”, University of Chieti, Pescara, Italy
4 Unit of Thoracic Surgery, “Spirito Santo” Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2013, 84(2), 197-200;
Published: 1 Mar 2013
Copyright © 2013 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Lung suppurative diseases in children are usually responsive to medical treatment or percutaneous drainage. Rarely, pulmonary resection is required for lung abscess in childhood, particularly in presence of co-morbidities. In these cases, a lobectomy is usually performed through an open thoracotomy, with a reported incidence of bronco-pleural fistula up to 9.1% of pediatric series. This consequence is mainly due to the inflammatory condition; however the lack of knowledge of pediatric and thoracic surgeons with this rare condition in childhood can also play a role. In adults with lung cancer, the buttressing of bronchial stump with the additional support of an intercostal muscle (ICM) flap has proved to prevent this complication, as well as to reduce post-operative pain. We report the first pediatric experience of ICM flap used in 2 immunocompetent children requiring lobectomy for suppurative lung conditions. Our preliminary experience confirms the feasibility of protecting the bronchial stump after lobectomy in children, especially in conditions at risk for bronco-pleural fistula development.
Keywords
- Bronchus
- Fistula
- Lobectomy
- Paediatric