A new technique for muscle flap closure of the empyema space in complicated chronic bronchopleural fistula

Abstract

The presented new technique was beneficial for achieving muscle flap closure of the empyema space with a chronic bronchopleural fistula.

Successful closure of an empyema space associated with persistent bronchopleural fistula: Muscle transposition combined with endobronchial plug

“…It is necessary to buttress the muscle flap to avoid a recurrent BPF. 2 Muscle flaps without enough volume cannot maintain the buttressing. In this case, the plug's wire helps the plug the remain wedged in the causative bronchus and helps to buttress the muscle flap.…”

“…We therefore planned to apply a novel technique that was reported by Watanabe and associates. 2 We fully informed the patient about this method and obtained his consent. We made a plug with a stainless steel wire (Figure 1) from vinyl polysiloxane impression material (Exabite II, GC America, Inc, Alsip, Ill).…”

“…However, these treatments often fail because of the recurrent BPFs. [1][2][3][4] In these treatments, complete obliteration of residual pleural space is important to prevent the recurrence of BPF.Here we report a successful treatment for a patient with persistent BPF. The patient was lean and did not have enough muscles for pleural space obliteration, so we devised a new methodmuscle transposition combined with an endobronchial plug.…”

“…However, these treatments often fail because of the recurrent BPFs. [1][2][3][4] In these treatments, complete obliteration of residual pleural space is important to prevent the recurrence of BPF.…”