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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1999;16:636-638
© 1999 Elsevier Science NL

One-stage pedicled omentum majus transplantation into thoracic cavity for treatment of chronic persistent empyema with or without bronchopleural fistula

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North China Coal Medical College, 063000 Tangshan, People's Republic of China

Corresponding author. Tel.: +86-315-372-5279; fax: +86-315-285-2195

Objective: Assessment of the present results of surgical treatment for chronic persistent empyema with or without bronchopleural fistula (BPF) using one-stage pedicled omentum majus transplantation into the thoracic cavity. Methods: From November 1979 to December 1996, 50 patients with chronic persistent empyema were treated by pedicled omentum majus transplanted into the thoracic cavity. There were 35 men and 15 women, and the age range was 15–58 years. Empyema had been present for 0.5–18 years. Twenty-six of 35 cases with chronic tuberculous empyema and six of 15 cases with chronic bacterial empyema suffered from concomitant BPF (n=32). In the latter, the most common organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Results: There were no perioperative deaths. Two cases had a significant air leak on the first postoperative day. One of them underwent rethoractomy 30 h after the initial operation to stop the fistula using intrathoracic omentum. Thoracic dead space disappeared in most of the operated cases and a sterilized dry cavity remained in some cases. Conclusions: One-stage pedicled omentum majus transposition is a safe and easy procedure for chronic persistent empyema and BPF, it breaks down residual or recurrent inflammatory foci mechanically and closes the BPF effectively with minimal deformity of the chest wall.

Key Words: Chronic persistent empyema • Pedicled omentum majus transplantation • Bronchopleural fistula