Free anterolateral thigh combined flap for chronic postpneumonectomy empyema.

Management of postpneumonectomy empyema has always been a challenging task. Local flaps or free muscle flaps are options for recalcitrant cases when traditional therapeutic attempts fail. This report presents 2 patients with chronic postpneumonectomy empyema who were treated with an anterolateral thigh combined flap consisting of vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles. This method showed promising results for reconstruction of large empyema defect. Copyright 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.