[Post pneumonectomy empyema with bronchopleural fistula--a successful management using pedicled intercostal muscle flap on an atypical mycobacteriosis following the irradiation]

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman underwent a right pneumonectomy for advanced mycobacterial disease (M. avium Complex), which followed the postoperative radiotherapy against a malignant schwannoma of the right lower chest wall treated seven years ago. On the 13th postoperative day, re-suture of the bronchial stump was performed urgently because of early bronchopleural fistula development. On the heels of that, reclosure of the bronchial fistula with coverage of the stump by parietal pleural flap was performed on the forty-first post operative day. On the 110th day, however, open drainage with thoracoplasty was performed because development of insidious aspergillous empyema was detected. Since then, local instillation of amphotellisin B, with an oral administration of antifungus drug was started. After succeeding to control the mycotic infection, reclosure of the bronchofistula, covered with pedicled intercostal muscle flap were performed on the 280th postoperative day and extraperiostal air-plombage for reducing empyema cavity. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged one year later. With respect to pathogenetic relationship between radiation pneumonitis and feasibility of infection to atypical mycobacteria, preoperative radiotherapy and concurrence of postoperative bronchofistula, and some problems on management of empyema bronchofistula were briefly discussed.