[Treatments for post-pneumonectomy pyothorax without broncho-pleural fistula: irrigation of the post-pneumonectomy space]

Abstract

Between January 1986 and December 1997 pneumonectomy was performed in 58 patients. Of the 58 patients, four had pyothorax without broncho-pleural fistula. Four patients underwent chest tube drainage and irrigation of the post-pneumonectomy space, and one of which died of lung cancer during treatment for pyothorax. Two had no evidence of recurrent infection, and one had a chest wall fistula after about one year and a fistulectomy was performed. These observations suggest that draining and irrigating of the post-pneumonectomy space are effective and non-invasive methods for treating post-pneumonectomy pyothorax without broncho-pleural fistula. However we were not able to investigate specific methods, fluid types, or irrigation time frames.