Treatment of two empyema patients with negative-pressure wound therapy after open window thoracostomy and muscle flap filling in one operation

Abstract

In recent years, some empyema patients treated with negative-pressure wound therapy have been reported. We report the treatment of two empyema patients using negative-pressure wound therapy after open window thoracotomy and muscle flap filling in one operation. This therapeutic strategy enables surgeons to shorten the duration of negative-pressure wound therapy compared with treatment whereby the patient undergoes open window thoracotomy first, and after the resolution of infection using negative-pressure wound therapy, a second operation is carried out to close the wound. Thus, because two-stage operations are unnecessary, our procedure may promote both short hospitalization and reduced stress of both patients and medical staff.