title: Free rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap for chronic postoperative empyema.
abstract: Chronic postoperative empyema remains a challenge for thoracic surgeons. Free musculocutaneous flap transplantation may provide a good alternative option in the treatment of these refractory complications after pulmonary resections. Three patients with chronic postoperative empyemas combined with bronchopleural fistulas underwent obliteration of the empyema tracts with free rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap transplantations. Surgical treatment was a two-stage procedure that consisted of open-window thoracostomy, followed by obliteration of the pleural cavity using a free transfer of the ipsilateral, full-thickness rectus muscle flap and microanastomoses. No postoperative complications occurred, and the 3 patients resumed normal daily activities. Free rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap transplantation is safe and effective in the management of chronic postoperative empyema with bronchopleural fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai Tongji University, Shanghai, China. jgnwp@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ge-ning
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wen-xin
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yi-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jia-an
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000601:surgery*; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013907:Thoracostomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed