Pleuropneumonectomy for the treatment of chronic thoracic empyema
Wada, H.; Kaneshiro, A.; Ito, M.; Hitomi, S.; Teramatsu, T.
Kekkaku 59(12): 615-619
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9776 PMID: 6530878 Document Number: 230142
To treat chronic thoracic empyema with decreased poulmonary function, pleuropneumonectomy was done in 35 cases (23%) of 110. This procedure is risky due to possible hemorrhage during operation and possible post-operative impairment of pulmonary function. The cure rate of this operation was 89% (68% by a single-step operation and 20% by multi-step operation). The failure cases (11%) consisted of 4 operational deaths and 1 case with external fistula. The post-operative change in pulmonary function [vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s] were a 20-30% reduction in pre-operative values at 6 mo. after operation. Cases without thoracoplasty survived longer than those with it.