Intrathoracic transposition of the musculocutaneous flap in treating empyema

Intrathoracic transposition of the musculocutaneous (MC) flaps of the latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis was performed after open-drainage thoracotomy in 6 patients with empyema. The MC flaps were designed in such a way that the muscle-bearing skin paddle was extended well beyond the distal muscle borders. The MC flaps thus provided substantially larger pieces compared to muscle flaps. With the exception of one patient with persistent bronchopleural fistula whose empyema recurred due to the reopening of the fistula, the thoracic closure was successful in all patients. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-preserved volume of subcutaneous tissue in the flaps, while the muscle portions of the flaps had atrophied. In conclusion, compared to muscle flaps, MC flaps have the advantages that (1) larger empyema cavities can be obliterated, and (2) the deformity of the thoracic wall can be minimized because of the small range of resected rib segments and well-preserved volume of subcutaneous tissue in the flap long after the transposition. The use of MC flaps is thus indicated for the empyema cavity remaining when a cavity is cleaned up of granulatous tissue with eradication of bronchopleural fistula.