title: Surgical management of children with pyopneumothorax: serratus anterior digitation flap.
abstract: Spontaneous bronchopleural fistula after childhood empyema remains a surgically challenging condition to treat and is associated with a high morbidity. Four children with pyopneumothorax and associated spontaneous infective bronchopleural fistula are reported. Drainage of the empyema by thoracotomy was performed together with limited decortication and the suturing of a raised digitation of serratus anterior around the fistula to achieve a successful outcome. The surgical technique of raising a serratus anterior digitation flap is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Birmingham, England, UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hallows
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Parikh
mesh_terms: D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*