Recurrent thoracic empyema in the presence of residual lung tissue can be treated
with an open window thoracostomy (OWT). Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) of these large
thoracic defects is a novel option.
Nineteen patients with residual lung tissue received an OWT for treatment of recurrent
thoracic empyema. In this retrospective case series, 8 patients (aged 58 +/- 20 years,
all male) were treated conventionally, and 11 patients (aged 53 +/- 17 years, 8 male)
were treated with VAC.
The application of the VAC system resulted in rapid debridement of the thoracic cavity
and reexpansion of the residual lung tissue. The duration of OWT and VAC therapy was
39 +/- 17 and 31 +/- 19 days, respectively. All 11 patients were amenable for subsequent
closure using pedicled muscular flaps. In 2 patients, VAC therapy alone resulted in
complete closure of the OWT. The average duration of follow-up was 46 +/- 19 months.
All patients, except 1, have recovered well. One patient died of nonpulmonary causes.
In the non-VAC group (n = 8), the OWT was managed conventionally by application of
saline-soaked gauzes. In 2 patients, the OWT was eventually closed using pedicled
muscular flaps (after 75 and 440 days, respectively). Four patients died of OWT-related
complications (1 bleeding, 3 recurrent infections) during follow-up; 1 patient died
of a cause unrelated to OWT. The average duration of OWT was 933 +/- 1,422 days.
When compared with conventional management of OWT, VAC therapy accelerates wound healing
and improves reexpansion of residual lung tissue in patients with OWT after empyema,
allowing rapid surgical closure.