The use of omental pedicle flap for treatment in the field of thoracic surgery

We present a series of 16 consecutive patients who underwent the omental pedicle flap method in the field of thoracic surgery. Fourteen of 16 patients were chronic empyema with bronchopleural fistulae and/or thoracic fistulae. A pedicle of omentum containing the right gastroepiploic artery was passed through a tunnel in the anterior diaphragm into the empyema cavity. It was fixed by mono-filament sutures on the bronchopleural fistulae. All but two patients were cured successfully by single-stage procedures. We also used a omental pedicle flap for mediastinal infection and reconstruction of the chest wall. We conclude that the use of omental pedicle flap is a promising method for treatment of serious infection in the field of thoracic surgery.