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 Univeristy College of M´xiicine.
There were 10 males & 3 females rar ging 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).
The treatment procedure for post-pneumoectomy 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.
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