Acute Postpneumonectomy Empyema with Bronchopleural Fistula Treated with Vacuum-assisted Closure Device

Abstract

Postpneumonectomy empyema is a life-threatening complication, which is often related with a bronchopleural fistula. After surgical repair of fistula, sterilization of infected pleural cavity is important and usually carried out by long-term cyclic irrigation. We report a case in which vacuum-assisted closure device was successfully applied to sterilize the pleural cavity and obliterate bronchopleural fistula.