BACKGROUND The frequency of complicated pneumococcal disease, including necrotizing pneumonia, has increased over the last decade. During 2008-2009, we noted an increase in the number of children whose empyema was complicated by the development of a bronchopleural fistula and air leak. We studied these children to see if there was an associated cause. METHODS This was a retrospective case not...

The diagnosis and management of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) remain a major therapeutic challenge for clinicians. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and localisation of BPF is sometimes difficult and may require multiple imaging and bronchoscopies. Successful management of a fistula is combined with treatment of the associated empyema cavity. The first step, th...

Ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst may sometimes cause complications like empyema, bronchopleural fistula, and collapsed lung. These complications may mislead the diagnosis and treatment if prior evidence of cyst has not been documented before rupture. We present a case of a young male who presented with complete collapse of left lung with pyopneumothorax and bronchopleural fistula which was misdi...

During one year five patients were observed with the adult respiratory distress syndrome who were found at necropsy to have cavitated lung infarcts following bland (non-infected) pulmonary thromboembolism. There were three instances of bronchopleural fistula and in one person a tension pneumothorax was the immediate cause of death. Four of the five patients had severe lung infections. In all pa...