Omentoplasty and thoracoplasty for treating postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula in a patient previously submitted to aortic prosthesis implantation

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2009 Jul 24:4:38. doi: 10.1186/1749-8090-4-38.

Abstract

Bronchopleural fistula following pneumonectomy is a serious and frightening complication in chest surgery with a high mortality rate. The possibility of curing this complication using a conservative treatment is extremely poor. Below we describe a case of a patient affected by left pleural empyema due to a postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula. The patient had previously undergone an aortic prosthesis implantation. He was successfully treated using omental pedicle in order to cover the bronchial stump, to fill the pleural space and to protect the aortic prosthesis. He also underwent thoracoplasty to collapse the residual pleural space. The postoperative course was uneventful. During the follow-up, after thirty months, the patient was asymptomatic, and no recurrence of the fistula was present.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Bronchial Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchial Fistula / etiology
  • Bronchial Fistula / surgery*
  • Empyema, Pleural / diagnostic imaging
  • Empyema, Pleural / etiology
  • Empyema, Pleural / surgery
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Omentum / surgery*
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology
  • Pleural Diseases / surgery*
  • Pneumonectomy / adverse effects*
  • Surgical Flaps*
  • Thoracoplasty / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed