Abstract
Excision of giant emphysematous bullae commonly results in a persistent air leak that requires prolonged intercostal drainage and delays recovery. To minimise this we have used Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) strips to buttress the suture line and secure pneumostasis. During 1976-84 eight bullae were excised in seven patients. One patient had bilateral staged thoracotomies. All chest drains were removed within eight days (mean 4.5 days) and no patient developed pulmonary complications. At long term follow up (1-9 years, mean 5.5 years) no complications attributable to the Teflon felt have been identified.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Allen T. H. Technic for resection of localized bullous disease of the lung. Am Surg. 1971 Nov;37(11):671–676. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Billig D. M., Boushy S. F., Kohen R. Surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. Arch Surg. 1968 Nov;97(5):744–749. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1968.01340050084011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Delarue N. C., Woolf C. R., Sanders D. E., Pearson F. G., Henderson R. D., Cooper J. D., Nelems J. M. Surgical treatment for pulmonary emphysema. Can J Surg. 1977 May;20(3):222–231. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FitzGerald M. X., Keelan P. J., Cugell D. W., Gaensler E. A. Long-term results of surgery for bullous emphysema. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1974 Oct;68(4):566–587. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gunstensen J., McCormack R. J. The surgical management of bullous emphysema. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1973 Jun;65(6):920–925. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Macarthur A. M., Fountain S. W. Intracavity suction and drainage in the treatment of emphysematous bullae. Thorax. 1977 Dec;32(6):668–672. doi: 10.1136/thx.32.6.668. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pearson M. G., Ogilvie C. Surgical treatment of emphysematous bullae: late outcome. Thorax. 1983 Feb;38(2):134–137. doi: 10.1136/thx.38.2.134. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ray J. F., 3rd, Lawton B. R., Smullen W. A., Myers W. O., Sautter R. D. Effective surgical palliation of giant compressive bullous emphysema (vanishing lung syndrome): long-term follow-up. Am Surg. 1976 Mar;42(3):181–185. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WOO-MING M., CAPEL L. H., BELCHER J. R. The results of surgical treatment of large air cysts of the lung. Br J Dis Chest. 1963 Apr;57:79–85. doi: 10.1016/s0007-0971(63)80018-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]