Surgical management of childhood bronchiectasis due to infectious disease

The purpose of this study was to estimate operative risk and to identify indicators of adverse prognosis in patients undergoing resection for childhood bronchiectasis. 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%). 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). Surgery for childhood bronchiectasis can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. Complete resection should be performed when possible.