N. Tsubota et al., TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOUS EMPYEMA WITH MULTIPLE FISTULAS BY REEXPANSION OF THE AFFECTED LUNG AND RESTORATION OF ITS FUNCTION - REPORT OF A CASE, SURGERY TODAY-THE JAPANESE JOURNAL OF SURGERY, 24(7), 1994, pp. 663-665
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.