In severe cases, bronchiectasis can be surgically removed. Either only a lung segment (segment resection) or a complete lobe of the lung (lobectomy) is removed.
- Indications:
- Unilateral and localized bronchiectasis
- Threatening hemoptysis (hemoptysis)
- Insufficient success of conservative therapeutic measures.
- Benefit: Resection increases symptom freedom.
- Complications:
- Atelectasis (collapse of alveoli).
- Bronchopulmonary fistulas
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
- Wound infections
In patients with non-CF bronchiectasis (not caused by cystic fibrosis (CF)) that is advanced, lung transplantation (LUTX) may be considered. For this purpose, the following criteria should be met:
- FEV1 <30% and exacerbation (disease flare) with intensive care stay or
- More than 3 episodes of disease per year or
- Recurrent (recurring) pneumothoraces (accumulation of air between the visceral pleura (lung pleura) and the parietal pleura (chest pleura)) or
- Hemoptysis requiring intervention (hemoptysis) with intervention.
