• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 1992

The 242 patients were operated due to chronic empyema in Hanyang University Hospital From Jan, 1983 to Aug, 1991, we operated 17 patients by modified.Schede`s thoracoplasty with myoplasty and we concluded to next scentences. 1. The age of patients were varied from 28 to 65[Average 39.1] and male preponderance was seen[more than 3 times]. 2. The preoperative cause of disease were tuberculosis in 14 patients[3 patients were associated with aspergillosis, and 1 patient was associated vrith actinomycosis], lung abscess in 2 patients, and haemophilia in 1 patient. 3. The Preoperative duration of empyema were varied from 1 month to 30 years[Average 49.8 month], and the duration from pulmonary resection to thoracoplasty were 1 month to 13.5 years[Average 55 month] except 3 patients, who were operated pneunectomy with thoracoplasty at the same time. 4. The total number of thoracoplasty were 19, because in 2 patients, we operated 2 steps, and we failed in 6 cases, so the success rate was 68.5%. 5. In failure analysis of 6 cases, the cause were obliteration failure in 3 cases, inadequete drainage in 1 case, and in the other 1 case was mixed type. 6. From 1990 to 1991, there were no death associated with operation and there were 1 failure, so the success rate was greatly improved. 7. The bronchopleural fistula or spontaneous rupture of trachea were seen in 12 cases, and the success rate was high in absent cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.273-276
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• 2018

We report the rare case of a 58-year-old woman who was diagnosed with fungal empyema thoracis combined with osteoradionecrosis. After 32 months of home care followed by open window thoracostomy, thoracoplasty with serratus anterior muscle transposition and a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was performed successfully. Although thoracoplasty is now rarely indicated, it is still the treatment of choice for the complete obliteration of thoracic spaces.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.851-856
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• 1989

Initial successful treatment of postpneumonectomy empyema depends to a large extent on adequate dependent drainage of the empyema sac and the use of antibiotics. But definite control of the infected space remains a disturbing and controversial area in the field of thoracic surgery. A 55-year-old man had a right pneumonectomy for tuberculosis with the development of postoperative thoracic empyema and in October 1973. Postoperatively, an empyema developed and the condition was managed with closed drainage and an open window thoracostomy. He was transferred to our institution in October 1988, and underwent thoracoplasty for the obliteration of the empyema space, resulting in a remaining space. The remaining space after thoracoplasty was obliterated by myoplasty using a rotation flap of splitted pectoralis major muscle three months later. He was discharged with uneventful course 12 days after operation, and continues to do well 3 months following operation. Our experience shows that thoracoplasty and myoplasty offer an effective alternative method of management of post-pneumonectomy empyema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.485-491
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• 2007

Background: Thoracoplasty has become a rarity in current clinical practice, although it has been widely employed for well over a century as a procedure for reducing the capacity of the thoracic cavity. Yet we have perform tailoring thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection in 20 patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the early and late clinical results and also the significance of tailoring thoracoplasty. Material and Method: From March 1995 to June 2005, modified thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection was performed in 20 patients out of a total of 298 pulmonary resections for closing air leaks and for treating persistent pleural space following pulmonary resections, and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept a diminished lung volume. Of the 20 patients, 14 patients had tailoring thoracoplasty performed concomitant with pulmonary resection, and the remaining 6 patients also had tailoring thoracoplasty performed following pulmonary resection. The subjects ages ranged from 24 to 77 (mean $59.1{\pm}6.4$) and a male preponderance was noted (17 : 3); the number of left and right surgeries was equal. The preoperative primary underlying diseases were lung cancer in 7 patients, pneumothorax with giant bullous change in 6 patients, bronchiectasis in 2 patients, previous pulmonary tuberculosis associated with aspergilloma in 2 patients, empyema with fibrothorax in 2 patients and multiple lung abscesses & destruction due to previous trauma in 1 patient. The operative methods were apicolysis and subperiosteal removal of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ribs (the costochondral junction to the posterior portions of the ribs) with preservation of the first rib and compression of the anterior chest via cotton bags and elastic bandages. Result: The mean duration of the air leaks after thoracoplasty was $1.6{\pm}0.2$ days (range: $0{\sim}7$ days) and the mean duration of an indwelling chest tube was 7 days (range: $5{\sim}11$ days); the mean duration of hospitalization was $19.2{\pm}2.8$ days (range: $8{\sim}47$ days). The postoperative complications were wound infection (2) and pneumonia (2); reoperation was done due to bleeding (1) in one patient who underwent concomitant thoracoplasty and there was 1 case of wound infection (1) after postresection thoracoplasty. The mortality was 1 patient in the early phase and 4 patients in the late phase. Conclusion: We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural spaces and to accommodate the diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results when this procedure is combined with pulmonary resection in selected patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.396-401
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• 1997

Tailoring thoracoplasty is employed prior to, following, or concomitant with pulmonary resection when it is anticipated that insufHclent lung tissue will remain to fill the pleural space following a pulmonary resection. This study reviewed a series of eight patients treated with tailoring thoracoplasty between 1990 and 1995. Indications were to close a persistent space In four patients and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept diminished lung volume concomitant with a pulmonary resection in the other four patients. The primary underlying disease was lung cancer in three patients and pulmonary tuberculosis In five patients, two of whom had concomitant aspcrgilloma, two, pneumothora , and one, empyema with bronchopleural fistula. In four patients with a prior pulmonary resection, the tailoring thoracoplasty was performed within eight days after the resection surgery. There was no failure to accommodate the thoracic cavity to insufficient lung tissue, even though two patients needed a second thoracoplasty. We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural space and to accommodate diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results Early, after, or concomitant with pulmonary resection in selected patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1987

Empyema thoracis following pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, trauma and surgical procedures continues to be a source of major morbidity and mortality. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 330 patients [child:87, adult243] treated for empyema thoracis at Catholic Medical Center between 1964 and 1986. The causes of empyema in these patients were as follows: pneumonia [C***:66%, A***:30%], pulmonary tuberculosis [C:2%, A:20%], lung abscess [C:3%, A:5%], postoperative complication [C:0%, A:13%], trauma [C:1%, A:4%] and unknown origin [C:23%, A:17%]. Three patients in this series died of sepsis from necrotizing pneumonia. Staphylococcus [29.3%], Streptococcus [8.8%], E. coli [8%], Mycobacterium tuberculosis [7.9%], Klebsiella [7.4%], Pseudomonas [6.4%], Bacteroides [3.4%] were the organisms most commonly isolated. Bacterial isolates were single in 68.3%, multiple 7.5% and absent 24.2%. The type of organism did not correlate with severity of disease or eventual requirement for closed thoracotomy drainage, open thoracotomy drainage [Modified Eloesser*s procedure], thoracoplasty, decortication or pleuropneumonectomy. Successful methods of treatment included aspiration in 44%, tube thoracotomy in 66%, open thoracotomy drainage in 98.7%, thoracoplasty in 98%, decortication in 96% and pleuropneumonectomy in 73%. Initial mode of management in empyema thoracis are thoracentesis and closed thoracotomy drainage. If the initial management was failed, we performed another surgical procedures. Before 1973, we manage with Schede`s thoracoplasty in the postpneumonectomy empyema patients. But thoracoplasty, with or without the use of muscle flaps, is a hazardous operation in the poor-risk patients. The permanent, open thoracotomy drainage is a relatively minor operation which is well tolerated even by cachexic, septic patients. It controls infection, and sometimes results in the bronchopleural fistula closing spontaneously.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 1983

Pulmonary tuberculosis is still one of unsolved problems in Korea due to increased number of far-advanced and drug-resistant patients, who have poor pulmonary function. We have analyzed 1332 operated Gases during the period of 1958-1981. Annual incidence of the disease decreased from 110 [1960] to 21 [1980]. The ratio between male and female was 7:3 and the age of peak incidence was in the 3rd and 4th decades. Recently, patients below the age of 20 years were slightly decreased, but above 50 years were slightly increased. The patients consisted of far-advanced case in 60% and moderately-advanced in 39% in 1980, as compared with 40% and 59% correspondingly in 1965. Preoperative sputum positively decreased from 91% [1958-1963] to 43.8% [ 1974-1981 ]. Medically treated patients for more than 3 years increased from 16% [1958-1963] to 51% [1974-1981]. From the view of surgical indication, totally destroyed hung increased from 27% [1958-1963] to 4396 [1974-1981 ]. Therefore, pneumonectomy occupied 53.8% of total surgical management recently. Mode of surgical treatment showed that thoracoplasty [33%], resection [57%] in 1958-1963 and thoracoplasty [2%], resection [98%] in 1974-1981. As Semb`s thoracoplasty was the first choice of treatment until 1960, thereafter resection became the choice. Postoperative mortality increased from 1.6-2.096 to 396 recently as well as morbidity. It was mainly due to increased number of poor pulmonary function and postoperative spread of disease. On the basis of our experience, far-advanced and drug-resistant patients increased in number recently, whose pulmonary function was poor. So postoperative mortality and morbidity increased. Proper surgical intervention should be considered before the appearance of resistance for all chemotherapeutic drugs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.555-559
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• 1991

Post-pneumonectomy empyema thoracis is an uncommon, but very serious problem. Early diagnosis & adequate drainage followed by thoracoplasty and or myoplasty are very important principles for the management of the empyema thoracis & will enable patient to recover from the toxic effects. During the period of January, 1985 to December, 1990, 13 patients with post-pneumonectomy empyema thoracis were treated in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 10 males % 3 females ranging from 31 years to 79 years of age. The occurrence ratio of left to right side was 8: 5. The underlying pathologic lesions of empyema thoracis were pulmonary tuberculosis[7], lung ca. [2] pneumothorax[2], lung abscess[1] pneumonia[1]. We treatment procedure for post-pneumonectomy empyema thoracis were open window thoracostomy in 10 cases, Clagett procedures in 2 cases, one thoracoplasty, and two cases of Clagett procedures followed by open window thoracostomy in one cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1970

Since the turn of the century there has been a constant search for a satisfactory method of controlling a large intrathoracic space following lobectomy. Primarily these methods consist of thoracoplasty, plombage, and phrenic nerve paralysis which are not completely satisfactory for they may result in loss of chest wall motility or diaphragmatic function. Incising the diaphragm at its periphery and resuturing to the chest wall at a level several rib spaces higher is an effective method of reducing intrathoracic space with minimal interference with pulmonary function. It is of particular value when the anticipated space problem is in the lower part of the thoracic cavity. Five cases are presented in which the diaphragm was peripherally detached and advanced to higher levels. Two cases were following lower lobectomy and three cases were following decortication for chronic empyema in which expansion was not good enough to adequately fill the space. Results in these cases were satisfactory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.420-427
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• 2007

Background: Postpneumonectomy empyema (PPE) due to bronchopleural fistula (BPF) can be a surgical challenge for surgeons. We analyzed the follow-up outcomes after performing omentopexy and thoracoplasty for the treatment of PPE with BPF after pneumonectomy. Material and Mehod: Between December 1991 and January 2006, 9 patients underwent BPF closure using an omental pedicled flap for the treatment of PPE with BPF after pneumonectomy. There were 7 males and 2 females (mean age: $45.9{\pm}9$ years). The patients were followed up for a mean of 58 months (median: 28 months, range: $6{\sim}169$). When we performed omentopexy, the surgical procedures for empyema were thoracoplasy for 8 patients and the Clagett procedure for 1 patient. Thoracoplasty was performed for the latter patient due to recurrence of empyema, Result: For the 8 patients who were treated by omentopexy and thoracoplasty, there was 1 operation-related death due to sepsis. During follow up, 1 patient, who was treated by omentopexy and a Clagett procedure, died of acute hepatitis 40 months postoperatively. The early mortality was 11.1% (8/9). Of the 8 patients, including the 1 late death patient, successful closure of the BPF were achieved in all patients (8/9) and the empyema was cured in 7 patients (7/8). Conclusion: The BPF closure using an omental pedicled flap was an effective method for treating PPE with BPF due to 75-destroyed lung, and thoracoplasty with simultaneous omentopexy was effective and safe for removing dead space if the patient was young and in a good general condition.