Limited thoracoplasty and free musculocutaneous flap transposition for postpneumonectomy empyema: A case report

Figure 1 Preoperative image showing a posterolateral scarred incision on the left collapsed thorax.

Figure 2 Chest computed tomography scan. A and B: Preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) scan (axial view) revealed complete opacification of the left contracted chest; C and D: Postoperative chest CT scan (axial view) showed that the pleural volume was reduced by half at two months after limited thoracoplasty.

Figure 3 Intraoperative and postoperative images. A: A 27 cm × 11 cm free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap was harvested from the patient’s left thigh; B: The free flap was transferred to obliterate the residual pleural space; C: Healed donor site; D: The free musculocutaneous flap healed very well.

Figure 4 Postoperative chest computed tomography scan (axial view) showing successful obliteration of the empyema cavity by limited thoracoplasty and free vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap transposition.