title: Postpneumonectomy empyema in pulmonary carcinoma patients. Treatment with antibiotic irrigation and closed-chest drainage.
abstract: Seven patients with postpneumonectomy empyema who had had pulmonary carcinoma were treated with intrapleural antibiotic irrigation and closed-chest drainage. Two tubes were used to irrigate and drain the cavity. Although most patients had a bronchopleural or esophagopleural fistula, the treatment was successful in every case. Three of the 7 patients died of far-advanced carcinoma 1 to 2 years postoperatively, but none died of sequela of the empyema. In 3 patients with bronchopleural fistula, empyema recurred during the first postoperative year. However, it responded well to repeated irrigation and drainage. This simple, time-saving, and easily repeatable regimen proved to be both effective and also very comfortable for the patient. It has none of the disadvantages of open thoracic drainage or mutilating thoracoplasty.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage; D004653:Empyema / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents