[Bronchial insufficiency after lung resection (author's transl)].

A fistula of the bronchus developed in 48 (3.3%) of 1466 patients with lung resection for non-tuberculous disease operated between 1948 and 1974. Only 1 (0.55%) of the 181 patients operated between 1972 and 1974 developed a fistula. In this last series we used atraumatic needles only and handled the bronchial stump with utmost care. The stumps were always covered with good vascularized tissue. Antibiotics were instilled in the pleural cavity.