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Published on: July 12, 2018
Empyema resulting from a true colopleural fistula complicating a perforated sigmoid diverticulum
Kostas Papagiannopoulos1, Dimitrios Gialvalis, Ibrahim Dodo
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom. kpagiannopoulos@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Empyemas developing after traumatic rupture of intraabdominal organs have been previously reported. We report a case of a true nontraumatic colopleural fistula following surgery for spontaneous rupture of a sigmoid diverticulum. The diagnosis was suspected by the presence of an air-containing tract seen in a computerized tomogram of chest and abdomen and was established with a contrast study. The empyema cavity was initially drained, followed by a laparotomy and fistulectomy with primary large bowel anastomosis and loop ileostomy. Although rare, colopleural fistulas present a diagnostic challenge and delayed management can lead to increased morbidity.
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