title: Management of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural-cutaneous fistula with a single free flap.
abstract: A variety of local flaps have been described for chest wall and bronchopleural fistula reconstruction. When local options cannot be used because of previous surgery, trauma, radiation, or body habitus, free flaps become an acceptable option. The authors report a case of persistent bronchopleural-cutaneous fistula treated with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap that obliterated the right chest cavity, closed the site of empyema drainage, and aided healing of a bronchopleural fistula. Surgical technique including anastomosis to the innominate vein is described.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1075, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: D Glenn
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pennington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods