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Published on: December 17, 2014
Limited thoracoplasty and free musculocutaneous flap transposition for postpneumonectomy empyema: A case report
Qian-Qian Huang1, Zhong-Liang He2, Yong-Yong Wu3
1Operating Room, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China.
Background:
Empyema is a severe complication following pneumonectomy that is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although there are a wide variety of treatment options, successful management remains challenging when this condition is combined with a large cavity in very thin patients who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy.
Case Summary:
We reported the case of a thin, 63-year-old man with a progressive pulmonary cyst who underwent left pneumonectomy via posterolateral thoracotomy 23 years ago. After an initially uneventful postoperative course, he was readmitted with empyema and a large cavity 21 years after surgery. He was successfully treated with limited thoracoplasty, followed by free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition.
Conclusion:
This case highlights that the treatment mode of limited thoracoplasty and free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition is safe and effective for the management of postpneumonectomy empyema with a large cavity in thin patients who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy.
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