THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRONCHOPLEURAL FISTULA

Abstract

A 66-year-old male with an aspergiloma in the upper left lobe was submitted to a wedge resection in December 2019. Pneumostasis was performed using biological glue and afterward the test of submersion in water showed no significant alveolopleural leak. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient presented an expanded lung parenchyma and moderate alveolopleural leakage that gradually decreased. A month later the patient was readmitted in intensive care unit with an acute respiratory distress after a sudden episode of coughing with abundant and purulent sputum and significant increase in alveolopleural leakage. Intraoperatively it was found that the pulmonary parenchyma covering the segmental bronchi was necrotic.