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Ann Thorac Surg 1975;19:585-588
© 1975 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Articles

Balanced Drainage of the Contaminated Pneumonectomy Space

Thoracic Surgery Section, Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital, Decatur, and the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga

Accepted for publication October 29, 1974.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Miller, Veterans Administration Hospital (Atlanta), 1670 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, Ga. 30033

The patient who needs a pneumonectomy but has an infected pleural cavity faces the probability of an empyema of the pneumonectomy space. Balanced drainage of a contaminated space may avoid this very serious complication.

A patient with obstructing bronchogenic carcinoma associated with distal parenchymal suppuration and empyema is discussed. A pneumonectomy with balanced drainage of the pleural space was performed. After three weeks the mediastinum was stable, and daily irrigation of the space with antibiotic solution was begun. Following fourteen days of irrigation, the cavity was filled with antibiotic solution and closed. Follow-up has shown no subsequent space problems or infection.

Balanced drainage is a useful method of dealing with a contaminated pneumonectomy space.

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