Postmus P E, Kerstjens J M, de Boer W J, Homan van der Heide J N, Koëter G H
Dept. of Pulmonary Diseases, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Eur Respir J. 1989 Oct;2(9):853-5.
In 13 patients an open window thoracostomy (OWT) was performed for post pneumonectomy pleural empyema. The operation, and life with an OWT cavity, were tolerated well. Early closure of an OWT is not advisable because of a high chance of recurrence of the infection and, in lung cancer patients also the risk of tumour relapse within two years after tumour surgery.
