Successful management of hemorrhage from the pulmonary artery stump after lobectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma

Pulmonary bleeding from the arterial stump following lung resection is a life-threatening complication requiring immediate surgical correction. Predisposing conditions are almost always represented by bronchopleural fistula and empyema. The operation often represents a major challenge to the thoracic surgeon, because of the choice of the most appropriate surgical access, the optimal technique to control the bleeding, as well as to treat the associated bronchopleural fistula. We present a case of successful treatment of hemorrhage from the pulmonary artery stump associated with BPF and empyema following lobectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma. A standard postero-lateral thoracotomy using the previous incision was used with adequate exposure of the source of bleeding and the bronchopleural fistula.