Successful Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Pleural Empyema by Closing Bronchopleural Fistula with Cyanoacrylate Products

A 69-year-old man had experienced right upper lobectomy for inflammatory granuloma. Three months after surgery, he was diagnosed with pleural empyema due to bronchopleural fistula and open window thoracostomy was performed. Since we could not decrease the dead space and the amount of pleural effusion, we introduced negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Before applying, we closed the fistula with suturing and cyanoacrylate products. Four weeks later, we performed an operation to close the open window with muscle transposition. NPWT is reported to be useful to treat pleural empyema, but control the air leakage from fistulas is essential to introduce this treatment. We think cyanoacrylate products may be useful in closing fistulas temporarily to introduce NPWT.