Bilateral pulmonary resection for bronchiectasis: a 40-year experience.

Ninety-nine patients underwent bilateral pulmonary resection for severe multisegmental bilateral bronchiectasis at the Overholt Thoracic Clinic during the period 1937 to 1977. A total of 216 operations were performed, and 20 patients underwent three or more procedures. The operative mortality was 1.4% and the incidence of severe complications, 7%. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 30 years (average 10.2 years). Only 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Improvement in pulmonary symptoms was achieved in 83 patients; there was no improvement in 9 patients; and 4 patients were worse following resection. The results suggest that bilateral bronchiectasis need not be a contraindication to operation. In properly selected patients, lasting symptomatic improvement can be provided by resection.