Transplantation of rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap after open-window thoracostomy to manage chronic refractory pleural empyema and fistula with 2 cases report / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To report the experience of using rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap after open-window thoracosto- my in managing refractory chronic pleural empyema.Methods From Nov.2004 to Mar.2006,intrathoracic transplantation of the musculocutaneous flap was performed successfully in 4 patients with empyema and fistula after upper lobectomy.The myocutaneous flap was designed in such a way that epigastrica vessels were incorporated.Results The rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap has provided sufficient bulk for tract obliteration.Over a mean follow-up period of 10 months,patients are free from recurrent infections and skin nacrosis.Conclusion Vaseularized museulocutaneous flap may help in healing refractory empyema.