A four-muscle-flap for thoracomyoplasty in patients with sacrificed thoracodorsal vessels

Multidisciplinary reconstructive management of residual recalcitrant empyema cavity: A retrospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Patients with stage III empyema require chest wall fenestration to enable lung re-expansion and continuous drainage of the persisting empyema cavity. This chronic wound negatively affects patients' exercise tolerance, ability to carry out activities of daily living, and quality of life.

METHODS

Eight consecutive patients underwent chest wall reconstruction following fenestration and were followed up over a minimum of 12 months. This study included adult patients (over 18 years of age). There were no exclusion criteria. Data were collected retrospectively.

RESULTS

Eight patients (six male and two female), with a mean age of 56 years (range, 22-76), were included. All of them had comorbidities including history of neoplasia (n = 6), atrial fibrillation (n = 3), and hypertension (n = 2). Aetiology of empyema included lung cancer resection complicated by bronchopleural fistula (n = 4), pneumonia (n = 2), and pleural effusion (n = 2). Five patients had a low metabolic reserve evident by a low BMI (range, 16-22), and a median malnutrition universal screen tool (MUST) score of 2 (range, 1-4). Following intensive infection control and nutritional support, patients underwent reconstruction 11 months (median; range 5-51) after fenestration. Seven patients were followed up and had no recurrence of empyema and bronchopleural fistula. They all reported significant improvements in their quality of life, and their Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status improved from three to one. One patient died 56 days post-reconstruction from cardiorespiratory failure, which required readmission to hospital.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that free tissue reconstruction including multidisciplinary input and optimisation at all stages of care successfully closes residual recalcitrant empyema cavity without recurrence and leads to significant improvements in the quality of life.

[Use of pedicled dorsal muscle flap combined with negative pressure therapy in the management of postpneumonectomy septic complications]

SUBJECT

The objective of this study is to report our experience in the management of septic complications arising from pulmonary resection surgery by placing a pedicled upper back muscle flap associated with dressings by therapy. Negative pressure in all patients supported in our center from November 2015 to March 2018.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Characteristics of fourteen patients with a pedicled dorsal muscle flap in the context of chronic empyema associated with bronchopulmonary fistula were identified. Flap placement time, complications, and success rate were assessed.

RESULTS

The median flap placement after completion of the open window thoracostomy was 19days [3-65]. The median healing time was 3months. Healing was definitively achieved in 12 patients, a success rate of 86%.

CONCLUSION

Through this series we have shown that our coverage by pneumonectomy cavity coverage with an early dorsal muscle flap associated with negative pressure therapy, has a similar mortality rate and success rate to those found in the literature.

Creative Use of Contralateral Combined Myocutaneous Free Flap for Empyema Cavity

Treatment of chronic postpneumonectomy empyema is a reconstructive problem that is always complicated by previous thoracic surgical procedures. Free flaps may be used because they effectively obliterate remaining pleural cavity dead space. Combined muscle free flaps with common vascular pedicles are viable alternatives when single muscle flaps do not possess adequate bulk. This case describes a contralateral combined latissimus dorsi-serratus anterior myocutaneous free flap with anastomoses to thoracodorsal vessels used for correction of chronic empyema. We also describe successful correction of a posterolateral chest wall defect using the adjacent axillary system as a recipient vessel. An accompanying skin paddle also enabled reliable cutaneous coverage of the external defect.

Thoracomyoplasty in the treatment of empyema: current indications, basic principles, and results

Empyema remains a challenge for modern medicine. Cases not amenable to lung decortication are particularly difficult to treat, requiring prolonged hospitalizations and mutilating procedures. This paper presents the current role of thoracomyoplasty procedures, which allow complete and definitive obliteration of the infected pleural space by a combination of thoracoplasty and the use of neighbourhood muscle flaps (latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, pectoralis, rectus abdominis, omentum, etc). Recent publications show an overall rate of success of 90%, with a quick and definitive healing. Although rarely indicated in our days, this kind of procedures remain in the armamentarium of modern thoracic surgery. The importance of thoracomyoplasty derives from the fact that it may be a simple and definitive solution for complicated cases of chronic empyema not amenable to standard decortication.