title: Thoracoplasty for Postpneumonectomy Empyema Associated with Bronchopleural Fistula: A Case Series.
abstract: Thoracoplasty is a historical procedure, initially devised for the treatment of refractory tuberculous empyema. Advances in medical treatments have nearly eliminated the need for this surgical procedure in pulmonary tuberculosis and it is rarely performed or taught in modern day surgical practice. However, few indications still exist, most prominently, in the treatment of postpneumonectomy refractory empyema often but not always associated with a bronchopleural fistula. In this case report, we present two cases of postpneumonectomy refractory empyema treated by thoracoplasty with long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Nyal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Sibu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
keywords: bronchopleural; empyema; fistula; thoracoplasty