2. Bronchopleural Fistula
Communication between the bronchial tree &
pleural space
Mortality varies between 18-67%
Aetiology
Postoperative 2/3
Non-postoperative 1/3
3. Post-operative BPF
Most commonly follows pneumonectomy (0-
9% v 0.5% in lobectomy)
Predisposing factors:
Rt pneumonectomy (shorter Rt main bronchus &
single Rt bronchial artery)
Uncontrolled preoperative pleural /pulmonary
infection
Preoperative irradiation
Trauma
Postoperative positive pressure ventilation
Faulty closure of bronchial stump
4. Day 1
Day 2
Day 14
Day 30
Post-pneumonectomy CXRs
Radiographics 2006;26:1449-1468
5. Acute Post-pneumonectomy
BPF
Reappearance of air
OR a drop in air-
fluid level >1.5cm
Mediastinal
shift
Subcutaneous or
mediastinal
emphysema
Contralateral lung
consolidation
from
transbronchial
spill
Tension pneumothorax
& Pulmonary flooding
Day 22
Radiographics 2006;26:1449-1468
7. Clinical Presentation
Persistent air leak >24 hours after the
development of pneumothorax
Exclude other causes of persistent air leak
An external air leak
Extra-thoracic location of side holes
Disconnections
8. Clinical Presentation
Acute
Sudden SOB, hypotension, coughing up of fluid
& blood
Subacute
Insidious onset with fever, wasting, minimally
productive cough
Chronic
Fibrosis of pleural space prevents mediastinal
shift
9. Diagnosis
Clinical
Instillation of methylene blue through stump
followed by its detection in chest tube
Inhalation of different concentrations of
oxygen and N2O followed by changes in gas
concentration in post-pneumonectomy space
CT scan to delineate the aetiology
Bronchoscopy is both diagnostic &
therapeutic
10. General Management
Drainage of
pneumothorax &
infected pleural space
with appropriate size
chest tube(s)
Pulmonary flooding:
Airway control &
position affected lung
down
Treat underlying cause,
especially infection
Maintain nutritional
status
Flow through a tube varies
exponentially with the radius of
the tube
11. Mechanical Ventilation
BPF offers a pathway of least resistance
(or high compliance)
Potential problems
Significant loss of tidal volume (VT)
↓ CO2 excretion
↓Utilization of inspired O2
Failure to maintain PEEP
Air flow through fistula delays healing
Inappropriate cycling of ventilator
12. Conventional Ventilation
Goal is to maintain adequate ventilation
& oxygenation while↓fistula flow
Minimize the pressure gradient between
airway & pleural space
Minimize mean airway pressure
Lowest effective tidal volume
Shorten inspiratory time
Least number of mechanical breaths
Limit PEEP
Discontinue /minimize suction on chest tubes
13. Chest 1986; 90: 321-323
Persistent Bronchopleural Air Leak During
Mechanical Ventilation. A Review of 39 Cases.
A retrospective review
Jan 1977 – Dec 1980
County hospital and regional trauma & burn
center in Seattle
Consecutive patients who received mechanical
ventilation & developed persistent air leak >24hrs
Patients after cardiac surgery or pulmonary
resection were excluded
15. Chest 1986; 90: 321-323
Overall mortality 67%
Increased mortality in:
Late air leak (94% v 45%; P=0.002)
Diagnoses other than chest trauma (P<0.005)
Maximum air leak >500ml/breath (100% v
57%; P<0.05)
Pleural space infection (87% v 54%; P<0.05)
16. Chest 1986; 90: 321-323
Mode of MV
Assist-control ventilation 33
Intermittent mandatory ventilation 6
Only 2 patients had persistent acidemia
PH<7.30 despite adjustment of ventilatory
settings
BPF can usually be managed by conventional
ventilation.
The need for special ventilation techniques is
uncommon.
17. Failure of Conventional
Ventilation…
Options:
Chest tube manipulation
Intermittent inspiratory chest tube occlusion
Application of intrapleural pressure at expiration
Independent lung ventilation
High frequency ventilation
Extracorporeal oxygenation
18. Intermittent Inspiratory Chest Tube
Occlusion
Synchronizing chest
tube occlusion at
inspiration
Limit loss of tidal
volume on inspiration
Restores pulmonary
gas exchange &
promotes healing of
BPF
During Inhalation During Exhalation
Chest 1990; 97: 1426-1430
20. Methods of Lung Separation
Endobronchial Blockers Double Lumen ETT
21. Methods of Lung Separation
Endobronchial Blockers
Can be passed
Along the side, or
Into the lumen
Of the single lumen ETT
Final placement requires
bronchoscopic guidance
Does not allow ventilation of
the obstructed lung (for
anatomical lung separation)
22. Methods of Lung Separation
Double Lumen ETT
For independent lung ventilation
23. Size of double lumen ETT
Appropriately sized to allow:
Adequate functional separation of the lungs
Access for suctioning and bronchoscopy
Prevent migration of the tube
Tube size (F)
Circumference
(mm)
Lumen diameter
(mm)
Indication
35 38.0 5.0 Pediatrics
37 40.0 5.5 Small adults
39 44.0 6.0
Medium adults,
usual female size
41 45.0 6.5
Large adults, usual
male size
24. Double Lumen ETT Placement
Confirming position by ascultation following
sequential clamping is inaccurate in 38%
Bronchoscopic confirmation is
recommended
For a left-sided double lumen ETT,
bronchoscopy via:
Tracheal port ~ Carina visualized, without
herniation of bronchial cuff
Bronchial port ~ LUL orifice visualized
25. Independent Lung Ventilation
For unilateral BPF
Unaffected lung:
Conventional ventilation
Affected lung:
Conventional ventilation with lower mean
airway pressure
CPAP at pressure just below the critical opening
pressure of BPF
High frequency ventilation
27. High Frequency Ventilation
Conventional Ventilation
Gas transport occurs by
bulk flow /convection &
molecular diffusion
VA = f (VT – VDS)
High Frequency Ventilation
Delivery of small tidal
volumes (VT≦VDS) at
supra-physiologic
frequencies
Governs lung
volume &
oxygenation
Frequency
Tidal volume & CO2
elimination
28. Gas Transport in HFV
Longitudinal gas
transport :
Coaxial flow
Molecular diffusion
Mixing of fresh &
exhaled gas :
Lateral diffusion
Turbulent flow at airway
bends & bifurcations
Intra-alveolar pendelluft
Most proximal alveoli by
bulk flow
29. HFV in BPF
Flow through an air leak is proportional to:
Cross-sectional area of the leak
Time held at high airway pressure
∴High frequency ventilation may reduce fistula
leak
30. HFV in BPF
Superior to conventional ventilation in
controlling PCO2 & PO2 in proximal BPF &
normal lung parenchyma
Controversial in peripheral BPF with
parenchymal disease (e.g. ARDS)
Initial settings:
Begin with MAP similar to or slightly lower than
that of conventional ventilation
Use higher frequency (13-15Hz)
Amplitude to achieve minimal chest movement
31. Potential Complications of HFV
Suboptimal humidification
Inspissation of airway secretions
Necrotizing tracheobronchitis
Gas trapping
32. Treatment of BPF
Operative
Drainage of infected
pleural space, closure of
BPF, and obliteration of
dead space:
Omental flap
Transsternal
transpericardial bronchial
closure
Eloesser muscle flap
Thoracoplasty
Non-operative
Conservative
Chemical pleurodesis via
chest drain
Bronchoscopic methods
Underwater seal
Patient
60cm
ANZ J Surg. 2006 Aug;76(8):754-6
33. Bronchoscopy in BPF
Diagnostic:
Direct visualization of proximal fistula
Distal fistula localized by systematically
occluding bronchial segments by balloons
Therapeutic:
Distal small fistulas (~1mm) can be sealed by
various agents:
Glue, blood patch, coils, gel foams, lead shots
No evidence to support the use of one over
another
34. Bronchoscopy in BPF
Amplatzer device
Commonly used for closure
of atrial septal defects.
For closure of larger BPF.
Large range of device sizes &
can be matched to size of
fistula.
Chest 2008; 133(6): 1481-4
Endobronchial valve
(Emphasys)
Designed primarily for
endoscopic lung volume
reduction in emphysema.
One-way valve that prevents
entry of air but allows
drainage of secretions.
Thorax 2007; 62: 830-3
35. Bronchoscopy in BPF
Endobronchial
Watanabe Spigot
(EWS) (Novatech,
Grasse, France)
A silicone-made
bronchial filler for
bronchial occlusion
Flexible bronchoscope
under LA
J Bronchol 2003; 10: 264-7
36. Bronchial Occlusion With
Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot
J Bronchol 2003; 10: 264-7
63 cases in Japan between April 2000 and
March 2002
40 intractable pneumothorax
12 pyothorax with bronchial fistula
7 pulmonary fistula, 1 bronchial fistula
1 bronchobiliary, 1 bronchoesophageal fistula,
and 1 bronchogastric fistula
37. Bronchial Occlusion With
Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot
Technically
successful bronchial
occlusion
In 58/60 (96.7%)
Average 4 EWS/case
used
J Bronchol 2003; 10: 264-7
38. Take Home Messages
BPF is an abnormal communication between
bronchial tree & pleural space associated with
significant mortality
No established guidelines in the management
of BPF
Early recognition, drainage, & management of
infection are critical
Recognizes the potential problems with
positive pressure ventilation, although
conventional ventilation usually suffices
List of available options represent personal
experience not subjected to vigorous testing