Closure of Post Left Pneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula with Empyema Thoracis [Transsternal Transpericardial Approach] - One Case Report -

좌측 전폐절제 수술후 발생한 기관지 늑막루의 폐쇄치료 1례

The bronchopleural fistula[BPF] due to bronchial stump disruption after pneumonec-tomy has remained one of the most dreadful complications to now. The management of the BPF with empyema thoracis are still therapeutic dilemma even though a various surgical methods for the control of BPF with or without empyema thoracis. We have experienced the successful treatment of BPF & empyema thoracis with transsternal transpericardial approach. The patient was a 54 years old male who was taken left pneumonectomy at W. Medical Center at sept, 19th. 1991. He was suffered from the BPF R empyema thoracis and so was transferred to our hospital at Nov. 19th. 1991. We treated the patient with transsternal transpericardial bronchial closure for BPF, and put clagett procedure for empyema thoracis in 2 weeks. We think this kind of surgical techniques is one of the relatively simple and effective method for the control of BPF and empyema thoracis.