Related Experiment Videos
A simple solution for management of the postpneumonectomy empyema cavity
Michael S Kent1, Robert J Korst, Lloyd B Gayle
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|September 1, 2004
Abstract:
Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with empyema is a difficult problem. Once the fistula is healed, successful closure of the pleural space is associated with varying degrees of success, as well as the potential for major reconstructive surgery. My colleagues and I describe a simple approach for the definitive management of the open pleural space involving split-thickness skin grafts to marsupialize the pleural cavity.