Preliminary experience of autologous free myocutaneous flap combined with free dermal graft in the treatment of refractory empyema with bronchopleural fistula

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of autologous free dermal graft combined with free myocutaneous flap on bronchopleural fistula (BPF) with empyema, we summarized and analyzed two cases. METHODS: Two patients with refractory empyema and BPF were treated with autologous free dermal graft combined with free myocutaneous flap. The treatment included debridement of empyema, rib resection drainage, repair of bronchopleural fistula, and free vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap transplantation to eliminate the empyema. After the free dermal graft was harvested from the healthy skin around the incision, it was inserted into the fistula and sutured with the surrounding pleural tissue. The keys to the operation lies in the anastomosis of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA), vein and nerve that supply the vastus lateralis muscle flap to the thoracodorsal vessels and nerves. After surgery, the empyema, air leakage, and the survival of the myocutaneous flap were observed. RESULTS: There was no disease recurrence after follow-up for seven and six months, respectively. Re-examination of the chest computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that the abscess cavity had disappeared. No necrosis of the myocutaneous flap was observed after surgery. CONCLUSION: The application of autologous free dermal graft combined with free vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap transplantation is effective in the treatment of patients with bronchopleural fistula with refractory chronic empyema, and the clinical effect is satisfactory.