Surgical management of childhood bronchiectasis due to infectious disease.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate operative risk and to identify indicators of adverse prognosis in patients undergoing resection for childhood bronchiectasis.

METHODS: From January 1985 to February 2001, patients undergoing resection for bronchiectasis were studied. The indications for operation were failure of medical therapy in 33 patients (94.2%) and hemoptysis in 2 (5.7%). The mean duration of symptoms was 4.2 years (range, 1-9 years). Surgical treatment included lobectomy in 17 patients (48.5%), pneumonectomy in 7 (20%), lobectomy plus segmentectomy in 5 (14.2%), bilobectomy in 2 (5.7%), and segmentectomy in 4 (11.4%).

RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 2.8%, and the morbidity rate was 17.6%. The mean follow-up in 34 patients was 5.4 years (range, 1-12 years). Overall, 22 patients (64.7%) were asymptomatic after surgery. Clinical improvement was noticed in 8 patients (23.5%), and no improvement was noticed in 4 (11.7%). Complete resection resulted in a significantly better clinical outcome than incomplete resection (P <.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for childhood bronchiectasis can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. Complete resection should be performed when possible.