TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOUS EMPYEMA WITH MULTIPLE FISTULAS BY REEXPANSION OF THE AFFECTED LUNG AND RESTORATION OF ITS FUNCTION - REPORT OF A CASE

We report herein the case of a patient in whom a calcified tuberculous empyema with multiple fistulae was successfully treated by a new surg ical approach. Reexpansion of the affected lung which had calcified ov er 30 years was achieved by covering the multiple bronchial fistulae u sing the omentum without obliterating the empyema cavity. Although the patient presented with severe aspiration pneumonia, he made a complet e recovery and is now leading a better quality of life than before. Th is new operative method is less invasive and can therefore be performe d much more easily on critically ill patients than conventional method s.