# Successful Treatment of Critically Severe Empyema With Bronchopleural Fistula via ECMO: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 64-year-old man with severe empyema and a chest wall infection was successfully treated with ECMO and other interventions, leading to full recovery.

## Contribution

This case report demonstrates the successful use of ECMO in treating critically severe empyema with bronchopleural fistula.

## Key findings

- ECMO support combined with surgical debridement and anti-infection treatment led to recovery.
- The patient was discharged after successful management of the life-threatening condition.
- Complex interventions including fistula closure and nutritional support were critical to the outcome.

## Abstract

Empyema is one of the most dangerous complications in thoracic surgery. It can easily progress to severe empyema with life‐threatening conditions that are extremely challenging to treat. We successfully treated a patient with critically severe empyema via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and the patient eventually recovered and was discharged. A 64‐year‐old male developed empyema 5 years ago. The thoracic infection led to a breakdown of the left chest wall. During hospitalisation, the patient's condition gradually deteriorated. We promptly initiated ECMO support and performed multiple debridement surgeries, fistula closure, targeted anti‐infection treatment, and nutritional support. Ultimately, the patient's condition improved, as he eventually recovered and was discharged.

Here, we report our treatment experience of a patient with critically severe empyema on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and subsequent complex treatments, ultimately resulting in his recovery.