We report the successful management of a bronchopleural fistula with bronch
ial stent placement combined with irrigation of the empyema cavity. A bronc
hopleural fistula occurred in a 67-year-old man after a right upper lobecto
my for lung cancer. Resuturing of the bronchial stump plus omental wrapping
and subsequent closure of the open stump with a pedicled flap of intercost
al muscle were not effective. Consequently, we placed a Dumon stent in the
right main bronchus to close the stump. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic
Surgeons.