[Residual pneumothorax following lobectomy].

Residual pneumothorax may result in spite of correct pleural drainage after lobectomy, segmental or wedge resection. This is due to persistent alveolar or bronchiolar air fistula particularly often in combination with a discrepancy between the size of the pleural cavity and the remaining lung tissue as in bilobectomy. The management of this problem is dealt with on the base of experiences with 56 cases in a consecutive series of 250 patients. It is shown that in a stabilized situation - mostly after 10 to 14 days - pleural drainages safely can be removed and spontaneous resorption of a residual pneumothorax can be expected without further treatment even after intervals of several months on an outpatient base. Bronchopleural fistula formation must be ruled out and absence of atelectasis or compressing effusion confirmed.