Postpneumonectomy empyema in pulmonary carcinoma patients. Treatment with antibiotic irrigation and closed-chest drainage.

Seven patients with postpneumonectomy empyema who had had pulmonary carcinoma were treated with intrapleural antibiotic irrigation and closed-chest drainage. Two tubes were used to irrigate and drain the cavity. Although most patients had a bronchopleural or esophagopleural fistula, the treatment was successful in every case. Three of the 7 patients died of far-advanced carcinoma 1 to 2 years postoperatively, but none died of sequela of the empyema. In 3 patients with bronchopleural fistula, empyema recurred during the first postoperative year. However, it responded well to repeated irrigation and drainage. This simple, time-saving, and easily repeatable regimen proved to be both effective and also very comfortable for the patient. It has none of the disadvantages of open thoracic drainage or mutilating thoracoplasty.