Multimodal Treatment for Post-Pneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula Associated With Empyema

Abstract

Post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula associated with empyema still remains a dreaded complication in thoracic surgery. A variety of surgical and endoscopic procedures have been proposed over the years, but none of these has been suitable for all patients. Herein, we report a new multimodal approach, including the insertion of tracheobronchial conical stent, the open pleural packing, and the closure of bronchial stump with omentoplasty. This procedure was successfully applied in 11 patients with post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with empyema.