Innovating customized stents for the treatment of bronchopleural fistula

Central bronchopulmonary fistulae (BPF) are associated with high morbidity and mortality (1,2). They occur as an uncommon, but often severe, complication of surgical procedures involving pulmonary resection, in particular pneumonectomy, with an estimated incidence ranging between 3% up to 28% (3,4). The incidence of BPF following lobectomy is significantly lower (0.5%) (3). The mortality rate associated with BPF ranges from 16% to 72% (3,4). This complication is significantly more common in patients with malignancy, poor nutritional status, and prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy.