Empyema with bronchopleural fistula is an uncommon, but serious problem. Early diagnosis and adequate drainage of the empyema cavity are well established principles for the initial management of this condition and will enable patient to recover from the toxic effects of loculated pus. 37 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were treated at the department of the chonbuk National University Hospital between 1981 and 1988.
The age group of fifty and sixty decades occupied 64.8%
Bacteriologic cultures of the pus were positive in 56.8%. The most common organism of the culture was staphylococci(42.9%). And the others were Pseudomonas(19%). Klebsiella(14.3%), and E. coli. No growth of pathologic organism was reported 43.2%.
24 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were nonoperative causes ; There were 10 pulmonary iuberculosis, 3 abscess, 9 ascending infection, one bronchiectasis and one tumor, respectively. The remaining 13 were occurred as postoperative complications pneumonectomy in 6, lobectomy in 4, decortication in 2, and lobectomy with segmentectomy in 1.
When used as the initial mode of drainage, closed thoracostomy was performed to almost all of the patients, but 4 patients were died during this treatment. Main operations were performed except 4 died patients : open thoracostomy in 21, open thoracostomy with myoplasty in 3, decortication in 5, decortication with resection in 3, and completion pneumonectomy in 1. Open thoracostomy was performed in 21 patients which results were favorable except one death. Permanent open thoracostomy is an old but still useful minor operation in patients with empyema with bronchopleural fistula.
The overall mortality rate was 15%(6 patients) and the causes of the death were respiratory insufficiency or sepsis, or both.
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