The history of surgery of empyema, thoracoplasty, Eloesser flap, and muscle flap transposition.

This article discusses the surgical history of empyema, thoracoplasty, the Eloesser flap, and muscle flap transfer. Little has changed in the 2000 years since the treatment of empyema was originally described by Hippocrates. The basic concepts of drainage of the infected empyema and obliteration of the space by allowing the lung to come up to the chest wall, taking the chest wall down to the lung, or by using muscle flaps or antibiotic solution remain the stabilizing forces in the treatment of postresection or postinfectious empyemas.