Omentoplasty for air leaks from lung parenchyma in two patients

Abstract

We experienced two patients with air leakage from lung parenchyma who were treated with omentoplasty. A 49-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis presented left pneumothorax. A 61-year-old man showed prolonged air leak after staged thoracostomy and decortication for empyema. In each patient, five times and three times, respectively, of thoracotomy using direct suture, fibrin glue spreading, application of sealants, polyglucolide sheet or combined fibrin glue and collagen (TachoComb ^®), or muscle pedicle sealing failed to stop the leakage. The leakage eventually ceased after sealing of the lung with a transposed omentum pedicle. Such an omentoplasty may be indicated for patients with noninfective air leak from lung parenchyma which is otherwise difficult to cure.