Abstract:

Objective

To analyze the research status，hotspots，and future development trends in the field of bronchopleural fistula （BPF） by using bibliometric methods.

Methods

Based on the Web of Science Core Collection database，English literature related to BPF published between 1995 and 2024 was retrieved.CiteSpace and VOSviewer were employed to conduct a visual analysis of annual publication volume，countries，institutions，authors，journals，highly cited literature，and keywords.

Results

A total of 1 503 articles were included，showing a steady increase in publication volume over the past thirty decades. Research on BPF is primarily concentrated in the United States （403 articles），China （218 articles），Japan （167 articles），and Italy （100 articles）.Mayo Clinic is the most prolific institution in this field （27 articles），while Lorenzo Spaggiari ranks first among authors（19 articles）.The journal with the highest number of publications is Annals of Thoracic Surgery （184 articles）.The most cited article is “Bronchopleural fistulas：an overview of the problem with special focus on endoscopic management” （290 citations）. High-frequency keywords include pulmonary resection （347 occurrences），bronchopleural fistula （312 occurrences），lung cancer （194 occurrences），and empyema （170 occurrences）.Keyword analysis reveals that risk factors，BPF complications，diagnostic techniques，surgical treatment，bronchoscopic intervention，and prevention are the current research hotspots.Early studies primarily focused on risk factors and treatment methods，while recent research has shifted toward prevention，long-term survival rates，and the accumulation of evidence-based medical evidence.

Conclusion

This study summarizes the research status and hotspots in the field of BPF through bibliometric analysis and explores potential future development trends，providing a valuable reference for scholars engaged in this field worldwide.

Key words: Bronchopleural fistula, Bibliometric, Visual analysis, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Web of Science