title: Esophagopleural fistula after pneumonectomy.
abstract: Rupture of the esophagus into the space left after pneumonectomy is a rare and often fatal complication. Esophagopleural fistulas occurred in three patients following pneumonectomy. After previous methods failed, two patients were successfully treated by using a one-stage procedure which included (1) suture closure of the fistula, (2) buttressing the repair with a viable, pedicled, two-rib intercostal-muscle flap, and (3) performing an extensive thoracoplasty with a continuous drip infusion of neomycin. Such a procedure offers the maximum opportunity for successful treatment of this catastrophic lesion.
mesh_terms: D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous