Management of Bronchopleural Fistula Complicated by Skin Wound Necrosis after Thoracomyoplasty

Abstract

Summary:Skin necrosis is a rare complication after thoracomyoplasty and usually needs conservative treatment. We described positive findings with surgical approach. A 54-year-old man showed bronchopleural fistula after undergoing right pneumonectomy for lung cancer, treated with thoracomyoplasty. On the 20th postoperative day, a skin wound lesion was noted, whose deterioration required a skin flap transposition. Patient was discharged from hospital on the 7th postoperative day and did not show relapse at the 7th year follow-up. Surgery can be the most viable alternative to medical treatments in the management of a chest wall cutaneous complication even in high-risk patients.

Tuberculous Bronchopleural Fistula: A Rare and Life-Threatening Disease

“…Surgical options include thoracomyoplasty, in which the chest wall is reconstructed to close the fistula. 20 However, surgery is risky, especially in high-risk patients, so less invasive options are ideal. Surgical therapy is effective for larger bronchopleural fistulas because of its ability to create and amplify negative pressure in the pleural cavity.…”