Limited thoracoplasty and free musculocutaneous flap transposition for postpneumonectomy empyema: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Empyema is a severe complication following pneumonectomy that is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although there are a wide variety of treatment options, successful management remains challenging when this condition is combined with a large cavity in very thin patients who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy.

CASE SUMMARY

We reported the case of a thin, 63-year-old man with a progressive pulmonary cyst who underwent left pneumonectomy via posterolateral thoracotomy 23 years ago. After an initially uneventful postoperative course, he was readmitted with empyema and a large cavity 21 years after surgery. He was successfully treated with limited thoracoplasty, followed by free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights that the treatment mode of limited thoracoplasty and free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition is safe and effective for the management of postpneumonectomy empyema with a large cavity in thin patients who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy.

Key Words: Pneumonectomy; Postpneumonectomy empyema; Thoracoplasty; Free muscle flap; Surgical treatment; Case report

Core Tip: Empyema is a severe complication following pneumonectomy and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although there are a wide variety of treatment options, successful management remains challenging. We performed limited thoracoplasty and free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition for postpneumonectomy empyema with a large cavity in a thin patient who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy. This treatment mode is safe and effective for such patients.

INTRODUCTION

Postpneumonectomy empyema (PPE) is an uncommon but severe complication that is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates[1,2]. Although there are a wide variety of treatment options for PPE, successful management remains challenging when this condition is combined with a large empyema cavity in very thin patients who had previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy[2,3]. Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old man with this kind of PPE who was successfully treated with limited thoracoplasty, followed by free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to cough, fever, and malaise for 2 years.

History of present illness

The patient’s cough continued, while his fever was relieved by the administration of antibiotics and the insertion of closed thoracic drainage.

History of past illness

The patient had a history of a progressive pulmonary cyst and underwent left pneumonectomy via posterolateral thoracotomy 23 years prior to admission.

Personal and family history

The patient was a nonsmoker and had no specific family history.

Physical examination

A physical examination showed that the patient was a very thin man, with a height of 170 cm, a weight of 45 kg and a body mass index of 15.6 kg/m². A scarred posterolateral incision was found on the left collapsed thorax, and chest auscultation demonstrated diminished breath sounds in the left lung field (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Preoperative image showing a posterolateral scarred incision on the left collapsed thorax.

Laboratory examinations

The pathogens identified via culture of the dark red pus that drained from closed thoracic tubes were Enterobacter cloacae and Proteus mirabilis.

Imaging examinations

The chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed complete opacification of the left contracted chest (Figure 2A and B). The patient underwent bronchoscopy, which revealed an intact stump of the left mainstem bronchus.

Figure 2 Chest computed tomography scan. A and B: Preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) scan (axial view) revealed complete opacification of the left contracted chest; C and D: Postoperative chest CT scan (axial view) showed that the pleural volume was reduced by half at two months after limited thoracoplasty.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The final diagnosis was postpneumonectomy empyema.

TREATMENT

After the patient’s condition stabilized, he underwent limited thoracoplasty via resection of the 4th-8th ribs, and two months later, the volume of the residual space of approximately 300 cm³ achieved a 50% reduction in the cavity, as measured by chest CT (Figure 2C and D). When it was confirmed that there was no infection in the cavity, the patient underwent free muscle flap transposition. During this operation, residual cavity debridement was performed, and the ipsilateral thoracodorsal vessels were prepared in the upper left thorax. Then, a free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap was harvested from the patient’s left thigh and transferred to obliterate the residual space, and separate microvascular anastomoses were completed end to end between the pedicle vessels and the thoracodorsal vessels (Figure 3A and B). The free flap was firmly stabilized inside the space with the surrounding tissue using monofilament absorbable sutures, and the remaining skin paddle was sutured with the surface skin.

Figure 3 Intraoperative and postoperative images. A: A 27 cm × 11 cm free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap was harvested from the patient’s left thigh; B: The free flap was transferred to obliterate the residual pleural space; C: Healed donor site; D: The free musculocutaneous flap healed very well.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The patient was discharged on POD 14 (Figure 3C and D). Fifteen months postoperatively, the patient remained clinically and radiographically disease-free (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Postoperative chest computed tomography scan (axial view) showing successful obliteration of the empyema cavity by limited thoracoplasty and free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition.

DISCUSSION

PPE is a potentially fatal postoperative complication that poses a complex challenge for thoracic surgeons[1,2]. The prevalence of PPE ranges from 2% to 16%, and both local and systemic factors have been implicated in the development of empyema[2,3]. The clinical presentation depends mainly on the presence or absence of a BPF. For patients with PPE without BPF, the onset of infection is often insidious and can occur anywhere from a few days to many years after surgery. Signs and symptoms often initially consist of low-grade fever and leukocytosis, and the mortality rate is higher than 10%. The diagnosis of PPE is usually confirmed by chest CT scans and bacteriological studies[1,2]. Our patient was diagnosed with PPE based on his symptoms, chest CT scan findings, drainage fluid and microbiology.

Once PPE has developed, there are many treatment options[1,2]. After the infection is controlled by adequate pleural drainage, obliteration of PPE may be achieved by treatment options such as antimicrobial solution, thoracoplasty, muscle and greater omentum flap transfer or a combination of these options[3-5]. A major contribution to the treatment of PPE (with or without BPF) came from Clagett and Geraci of the Mayo Clinic, who reported their landmark technique in 1963 that now bears Dr. Clagett’s name[1]. However, our patient did not undergo the Clagett procedure because his residual pleural space was very large.

Thoracoplasty has been proven to be a reliable filling procedure[3], and a rough estimate for the expected reduction of the pleural cavity with thoracoplasty is that the resection of 5 ribs results in an approximate 25% collapse, while a 7-rib thoracoplasty can achieve a 50% reduction of the cavity. However, the disadvantages of thoracoplasty reportedly include progressive scoliosis, chronic pain, and a mutilating cosmetic appearance; therefore, the procedure has become obsolete[1,3]. Currently, limited thoracoplasty can be used to reduce the pleural space volume as a surgical step for select cases, such as with our patient. A combination of limited thoracoplasty and intrathoracic muscle transposition is required to effectively obliterate this cavity[1].

Tissue flaps may be used to obliterate the pleural cavity as pedicled, free, and combination methods[4-6]. The most common pedicled muscles used are the latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, and intercostal muscles[4]. However, for very thin patients who have previously undergone a posterolateral thoracotomy, these muscle flaps may not be sufficient to obliterate the empyema cavity because they have already been divided during the original operation, or the greater omentum may not have enough volume to obliterate the cavity unless an open window thoracostomy is performed[4,5]. In this situation, a free musculocutaneous flap, such as a vastus lateralis, could be harvested and transposed to completely obliterate the cavity after the pleural cavity is reduced by limited thoracoplasty[6]. During the operation, the descending branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and two accompanying veins functioning as nutrient vessels underwent separate microvascular anastomoses end to end to the ipsilateral thoracodorsal vessels by interrupted suture. After completion of the microvascular anastomosis, the free flap was firmly stabilized inside the space with the surrounding tissue using monofilament absorbable sutures, and the remaining skin paddle was sutured with the surface skin[6]. This free muscle flap may easily obliterate the pleural space, as the volume was reduced by half at two months after limited thoracoplasty. At 15 mo after surgery, the patient had recovered well without any recurrence.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, limited thoracoplasty and free muscle flap transposition are effective management methods for PPE in thin patients who have a large cavity.