TREATMENT OF BRONCHIAL FISTULA ASSOCIATED WITH NON-SPECIFIC CHRONIC PLEURAL EMPYEMA: Review

The treatment of non-specific chronic pleural empyema with bronchial fistulae remains one of the most relevant issues in thoracic surgery. The question about the treatment phasing of bronchial fistulae associated with chronic pleural empyema is yet to be answered. Is it reasonable to seal a bronchial fistula before or after the sanitation and obliteration of the residual pleural cavity? The choice of bronchial fistula sealing technique is also a relevant issue because, in spite of the multitude of techniques, there is still no single doctrine. The terms of traditional and minimally invasive techniques aimed at bronchial fistula sealing and pleural cavity obliteration are not defined, either. This article summarises the opinions of leading authors presented in the literature concerning the solution of this complex, life-threatening problem.