[Pulmonary aspergilloma: results of surgical treatment. Report of a series of 206 cases].

STUDY AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to report the results of the surgical treatment in 188 patients operated on for pulmonary aspergilloma in a series of 206 patients observed in Morocco.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 1982 to 1998, 206 patients were treated for pulmonary aspergilloma in the same hospital; 188 were operated on and surgery was contraindicated in the other patients with general or respiratory failure. Hemoptysis was the main symptom, present in 190 patients (92%). Surgery was performed on principle with 108 lobectomies, 38 segmentectomies, 18 lobectomies and segmentectomies, 21 pleuropneumonectomies and 3 thoracoplasties.

RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 36% of the patients including: pyothorax (n = 15), hemothorax (n = 10), rehabitation defects (n = 17) and respiratory failure (n = 10). Reoperation was necessary in 6 patients. Postoperative mortality rate was 6.4% (12 patients including 5 treated by pleuro-pneumonectomy).

CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment, in spite of its high morbidity, has to be proposed to all patients with pulmonary aspergilloma, even in asymptomatic patients when there is no surgical contraindication. Pleuropneumonectomy is a very high risk procedure and its indications must be restricted. Thoracoscopy was rarely performed in this series.