Management of bronchial complications in lung transplantation

Abstract

Airway complications have traditionally been a major source of morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation. The clinical success achieved by the Toronto group in the late 1980s was largely based on their concepts of prevention and treatment of these complications. Using a pedicled omental wrap around the bronchial anastomosis, a decreased prevalence of bronchial stenosis was reported (3, 14). Bronchial dehiscence as a consequence of full thickness necrosis was contained by omentum (14). If bronchial stenosis occurred, endobronchial silicone stents were used for airway maintenance (14).