Muscle Flaps and Thoracomyoplasty as a Re-redo Procedure for Postoperative Empyema.

BACKGROUND: The role of muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty in the treatment of postoperative empyema is controversial. The major difficulty is given by the sectioning of the muscular masses during the previous thoracotomy/thoracotomies, resulting in a limitation of the volume and mobility of the available neighborhood flaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2012, we used muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty as a re-redo procedure in seven patients having a history of at least two major procedures performed through thoracotomy (without considering tube thoracostomy and open thoracic window). In all the cases, the indication for thoracomyoplasty was the presence of an empyema which could not be controlled by the previous procedures. The principle of our procedure was to perform a complete obliteration of the cavity, closure reinforcement of the bronchial fistulae using muscle flaps (in four cases), drainage, and primary closure of the new operative wound. RESULTS: We encountered no mortality, one bronchopneumonia requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and one intermuscular seroma; there was no need for prolonged mechanical ventilation or major inotropic support. In all the patients, we achieved complete obliteration of the cavity and per primam wound healing, with postoperative hospitalizations ranging between 30 and 51 days. At late follow-up (1-8 years), we encountered no recurrence and no major functional sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracomyoplasty may be a definitive solution in cases with recurrent postoperative complications. A careful analysis of the local anatomy allows the use of muscle flaps even after more procedures involving opening of the chest.

Plombage thoracoplasty with balls performed for tuberculosis--still working after 46 years.

Plombage thoracoplasty using different synthetic materials was a popular procedure in the management of tuberculosis (TB) in the 1940-50's, being then abandoned. We report an 81-year-old patient who underwent a plombage thoracoplasty with balls at the age of 35; at the moment of examination in our unit, the patient had no chest complaints and no complications related to the surgical procedure was noted. CT scan showed the presence of the plombage material (balls) surrounded by fibrosis and calcifications but without other significant lesions. In our knowledge, this is the first modern detailed imaging description of a plombage thoracoplasty with uncomplicated outcome 46 years after surgery.

Muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty: alternative solution for unresectable primary pulmonary abscesses.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to perform a retrospective analysis of our experience in using muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty for unresectable primary pulmonary abscesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1, 2003, and January 1, 2012, we have used different muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty in 15 patients with unresectable primary pulmonary abscesses. Muscle transposition was used alone (3 cases) or during thoracomyoplasty procedures for lung abscesses complicated with empyema (12 cases). The objective of the procedure was complete obliteration of the diseased space, with additional limited thoracoplasty being required in 12 out of 15 patients (average resected ribs: 3.7); bronchial fistula were encountered in 9 patients and were closed-reinforced using muscle flaps. The following parameters were followed: mortality, morbidity, intensive care and overall postoperative hospitalization, recurrence, and late sequelae. RESULTS: We have encountered one postoperative death (6.7%) and an overall 46.7% morbidity. Intensive-care unit stay ranged between 1 and 5 days with a median of 2. Overall postoperative hospitalization ranged between 22 and 46 days, with a median of 32 days. At late 1-year follow-up, we encountered no recurrence and no major chest deformity with a moderate limitation of shoulder mobility in two patients. CONCLUSION: Space-filling procedures are a valuable solution for unresectable primary pulmonary abscesses, allowing the avoidance of open drainage and pleuropneumonectomy. The extensive mobilization of the flaps offers a good-quality biological material with considerable volume.

Modified thoraco-mediastinal plication (Andrews thoracoplasty) for post-pneumonectomy empyema: experience with 30 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to evaluate the results of thoraco-mediastinal plication for the treatment of post-pneumonectomy empyema. METHODS: From 1 January 1985 to 1 January 2011, 30 patients underwent post-pneumonectomy empyema through a modified thoraco-mediastinal plication procedure (Andrews thoracoplasty). Indications for pneumonectomy included cancer (25 cases), tuberculosis (3 cases), and bronchiectasis (two cases). Rib resection was performed according to the topography of the cavity, ranging between 5 and 10. Neighbourhood muscle flaps were used in 22 cases but extensive mobilization was performed only in our last 4 cases, the aim of the procedure being the complete obliteration of the infected space. Bronchial fistula was present in 14 cases and was closed and reinforced with the use of flaps (intercostal 12 cases, serratus 1 case, and omentum 1 case). RESULTS: Overall mortality was 6.7% (2 cases); 2 patients (6.7%) presented with recurrence of the empyema requiring an open-window procedure and another patient (3.3%) presented with local tumoral recurrence. Intensive care unit hospitalization ranged between 1 and 14 days, with a median of 4 days, while overall postoperative hospitalization ranged between 23 and 52 days with a median of 32 days, the patients being discharged with healed wounds. Kaplan-Meier analysis of the oncologic patients showed a median survival of 41 months from thoraco-mediastinal plication. The presence of bronchial fistula had no statistically significant impact on the immediate outcome (mortality, need for postoperative prolonged mechanical ventilation, intensive care and overall postoperative hospitalization, P > 0.05 for all the parameters). CONCLUSIONS: Space-filling procedures are a valuable option for treating post-pneumonectomy empyema. The major advantages are the complete obliteration of the infected space and the quick healing from a single procedure; the major disadvantages are the magnitude of the procedure (with associated mortality and morbidity) and the permanent chest mutilation. Several technical details may improve the results and reduce the chest wall mutilation.

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.

Intrathoracic transposition of the serratus anterior muscle flap--personal experience with 65 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our article is to analyse the results of intrathoracic transposition of the serratus anterior (SA) muscle flap for suppurative diseases. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of 65 consecutive patients operated upon in our unit between 1 January 2003 and 1 March 2009 in whom we used intrathoracic transposition of the SA muscle flap. The flap was used alone or in association with other flaps and/or thoracoplasty in patients not amenable to lung resection and/or decortication, including tuberculous (TB) lesions in 30 patients (46%), postoperative empyema in 12 patients (18%), frank intrapleural rupture of a pulmonary cavity in 13 patients (20%) and bronchial fistula(e) in 26 patients (40%). Many patients presented a combination of the afore-mentioned anatomo-clinical characteristics. The SA was used alone in 16 patients (25%) and in combination with other flaps in 49 patients (75%). In most cases (62 patients, 95%), the flap was mobilised using both the thoracodorsal branch and the lateral thoracic vessels. Associated limited rib resection was performed with an average of 4.9±1.6 resected ribs per patient. RESULTS: In general, mortality was 5% (three patients) and other two patients (3%) presented recurrence of the intrathoracic infection requiring re-operation; minor local complications were encountered in three patients (skin necrosis--two cases and external thoracic fistula--one case). Postoperative hospitalisation ranged between 4 and 172 days, with a median of 34 days. We encountered a mild impairment of shoulder mobility in five patients, but no case of true-winged scapula. Analysis of the pre- and postoperative values of the vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) showed no statistically significant difference (paired t test -p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SA muscle flap is very well suited for intrathoracic transposition. Its use is not associated with significant postoperative morbidity.

Thoracodorsal versus reversed mobilisation of the latissimus dorsi muscle for intrathoracic transposition.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study is to perform a comparative analysis of the mobilisation of latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap using the primary versus secondary blood supply. METHOD: Between 1 January 2003 and 1 March 2009 we used the LD muscle flap in 57 patients with different intrathoracic suppurations; these patients were divided according to the blood supply used for flap mobilisation. Group A consists of 26 patients in whom the LD was mobilised based on the thoracodorsal vessels (alone in eight patients, in combination with other flaps in 18 patients). Group B consists of 31 patients in whom the LD was mobilised based on the perforator branches from the last intercostals and lumbar vessels (alone in nine patients, in combination with other flaps in 22 patients). Statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism 5 and EpiInfo 3.5.1 for Windows software. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in age, sex distribution, incidence of tuberculosis, bronchial fistula, postoperative empyema and co-morbidities (p>0.05). We found no statistically significant difference between group A and group B in terms of operative time group (176 ± 33 min vs group B 170 ± 40 min), mortality (4% vs 3%), infection recurrence (8% vs 3%), incidence of minor local complications (8% vs 6%) or hospitalisation 39 ± 16 days versus 41 ± 16 days (p>0.05 for all the parameters). We encountered no significant functional sequelae in any of the 57 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both modalities of mobilisation of the LD muscle flap are safe and allow easy transposition in any part of the chest; the choice of how to use this flap should be made based only on the location of the intrathoracic defect.

Complex space-filling procedures for intrathoracic infections - personal experience with 76 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our article is to analyse the results of complex space-filling procedures for chronic intrathoracic suppurations. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 76 consecutive patients operated in our unit between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2008, who presented pleural and/or pulmonary suppurations not amenable to decortication or resection; 36 patients (47%) had tuberculosis (TB) lesions (28 with positive cultures at the moment of surgery, seven with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) infections), 13 patients (17%) had postoperative empyema, 18 patients (24%) presented with frank intrapleural rupture of a pulmonary cavity and 26 patients (34%) presented with bronchial fistula. In these patients, we performed a combination of thoracoplasty (5.3+/-1.3 resected ribs) and intrathoracic transposition of extrathoracic muscles - 148 flaps (60 serratus anterior, 55 latissimus dorsi, 27 pectoralis and 6 subscapularis) with an average of 1.9 flaps per patient; in all patients, we used a closed-circuit irrigation-aspiration system and primary closure of the wound. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 5% (four patients) and four other patients (5%) presented recurrence of infection requiring a modified open-window thoracostomy; other local complications included minor skin necrosis solved through excision (three cases) and external thoracic fistula closed through local lavages (two cases). Postoperative hospitalisation ranged between 4 and 180 days, with an average of 40+/-5 days; all patients were discharged with healed wounds. Statistical analysis performed with the Fischer's exact test suggested that the flap or combination of flaps used to obliterate the space did not influence the rate of recurrence or the incidence of other major postoperative complications (p>0.05). Mild impairment of shoulder function was encountered in five patients. A comparative evaluation of the pre- and postoperative VC and forced expiratory volume of 1s (FEV1) showed no statistically significant difference (Wilcoxon signed-rank test -p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with complex intrathoracic suppurations not amenable to decortication or lung resection require complex space-filling procedures to achieve complete obliteration of the infected space. The association between thoracoplasty and intrathoracic muscle transposition is a safe and simple solution allowing a quick recovery with good functional and aesthetic postoperative outcome.