title: Treatment of postpneumonectomy empyema and associated bronchopleural fistula. Experience of 100 consecutive postpneumonectomy patients.
abstract: Experience in the management of 100 consecutive patients with postpneumonectomy empyema is presented. Open-window thoracostomy was used for treatment of the empyema in all cases. The patients were grouped according to surgical procedure after this treatment. In group 1 the thoracostomy window was left permanently open. In group 2 it was closed, and in group 3 the open pleural cavity was covered with skin, using a pedicle of muscle and skin and free skin transplants. The pectoralis skin pedicle was used to close large bronchopleural fistulas. The results in each group are presented and a staged method, which can be used in all cases of postpneumonectomy empyema, with or without bronchopleural fistula, is described.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, Central Hospital of Kanta-Häme, Hämeenlinna, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eerola
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Virkkula
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varstela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D004653:Empyema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000379:methods*