Tracheobronchial sleeve resection with the use of a continuous anastomosis: Results of one hundred consecutive cases

Objective: We have used a continuous suture technique for all tracheal and bronchial anastomoses with satisfactory results in our institution. The obj ective of this article is to review our experience with sleeve resections u sing this technique and report the associated morbidity and mortality in 10 0 consecutive cases. Methods: Our experience with sleeve resection using a continuous suture (3-0 polypropylene) technique was reviewed in 100 consecu tive cases. The median age of the patients was 53.3 years with a range of 2 1 to 81 years. There were 54 male patients and 46 female patients. Resectio n was undertaken for malignant disease in 81 patients, acquired stricture i n 14 patients, benign tumor in 4 patients, and trauma in 1 patient, Among 2 8 patients in whom lung parenchyma was not resected, 16 patients had trache al resection and 12 had bronchial. sleeve resection, Sleeve pneumonectomy w as undertaken in 2, sleeve lobectomy in 66, and sleeve segmentectomy in 4, Results: There were 12 postoperative complications (12%) and 2 postoperativ e deaths resulting from bronchoatrial fistula and pneumonia (2%), Stricture as a late complication occurred in 5 patients, 2 of whom required a bronch ial stent, Other late complications were bougienage, reanastomosis, and com pletion pneumonectomy (1 each). Conclusion: Our experience suggests that th e results of continuous suture technique are comparable with those from rep orted series using interrupted suture technique for tracheal and bronchial anastomosis.