title: Modified thoracoplasty using a breast implant to obliterate an infected pleural space: an alternative to traditional thoracoplasty.
abstract: Thoracoplasty is a technique used to obliterate residual intrapleural spaces after lung resection for infection or other causes. It involves multiple osteotomies on several ribs and then collapsing them into the space to be obliterated; however, this results in a distorted and asymmetrical chest wall. We report a case of a 34-year-old female with completely destroyed right upper lobe secondary to chronic Aspergillus infection. She underwent a completion right upper lobectomy and modified thoracoplasty with the use of a breast implant to obliterate the residual pleural space without any distortion of the chest wall, with an excellent outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. Electronic address: khan76@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aiman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alzetani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018427:Breast Implants; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004654:Empyema, Tuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome