[Bloody sputum caused by hemorrhage around staple-lines 5 years after surgery; report of a case].

23 year-old non-smoking male who had underwent bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) bullectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax using surgical stapler (Endo GIA, Tyco Healthcare) 5 years before, referred to our hospital due to hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed infiltrative shadow surrounding stapled-line at right pulmonary apex. Aspiration-shadows were scattered in right lung parenchyma. Bronchoscopy revealed bloody clot extended from right B1 to main bronchi. These findings suggested that the cause of bloody sputum was bleeding from the tissue around staples used in VATS bullectomy. On admission he treated with hemostatic agents, and bloody sputum and abnormal CT shadows disappeared. Metallic surgical staplers may cause airway bleeding after surgery in its chronic stage, although complications due to them are rare.