• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 1996

Postoperative empyema thoracis with bronchopleural fistula (BPF) Is uncommon but serious complication. The management remains troublesome area in the field of the general thoracic surgery During the period of October 1993 to December 1994, four patients with postresectional empyema thoracic with BPF were treated consecutively in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hosp tal. The treatment procedures include irrigation and debridement of the empyema cavity and muscle flap transposition. Follow-up periods after surgery were 4-12 months. Three patients were thought successful, one patient failed. We think that the cause of failure is muscle necrosis of rectos abdominis muscle flap due to vascular injury and infection of muscle due to residual infected debridement of empyema cavity.