Resection of bronchial stricture and destroyed lung after pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

We present a 53-year old man with destroyed lung syndrome (right upper and middle lobes and S6 of lower lobe with bronchial stricture between the right main and intermediate bronchus) due to tuberculosis 25 years earlier. Aspergillus infection in the destroyed lung was suspected on the basis of antigen positivity. The patient underwent right upper and middle lobectomy, S6 segmentectomy and bronchial resection from the distal end of the right main bronchus to the proximal end of the right basal bronchus. The membranous part of the right main bronchus was cerclaged in order to circularize the flattened bronchus and to match its diameter with that of the basal bronchus. End-to-end anastomosis was then carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination revealed Aspergillus infection in the cavity of the destroyed lung. Bronchoscopic findings 6 weeks after surgery revealed good healing of the anastomosed portion without stenosis.