title: Benign emptying of the post-pneumonectomy space: recognizing this rare complication retrospectively.
abstract: Patients presenting with a sudden drop in the pleural fluid level after a pneumonectomy in the absence of a recognizable bronchopleural fistula (BPF) have been classified as cases of benign emptying of the post-pneumonectomy space (BEPS). A retrospective study of 1378 pneumonectomies identified 4 cases of BEPS (0.29%). The patients were men; median age 64 years and all had undergone a right pneumonectomy. The median time at diagnosis was 31 days postoperatively and the median follow-up time was 31 months. None of the patients experienced a documented BPF or empyema. Although BEPS is an extremely rare complication, early recognition and close patient monitoring will prevent unnecessary interventional strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece meletis_kanakis@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Meletios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Misthos
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michalis D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tsimpinos
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicoletta G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Rapti
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chatzis
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sismanoglio General Hospital of Athens, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lioulias
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
keywords: Complication; Empty; Pleural space; Pneumonectomy