Supercharged free omental flap plombage for empyema in a patient with an artificial pericardium.

Cavernostomy and fenestration were performed in a patient who developed a lung abscess and empyema in the left lung, which was damaged after multimodality therapy for advanced thymoma. The hospitalized patient suddenly experienced cardiopulmonary arrest due to major bleeding from the left main pulmonary artery. We immediately performed the main pulmonary arterial embolization, and the patient was resuscitated. Subsequently, the patient underwent supercharged free omental flap plombage performed in the following manner: first, laparoscopic harvesting of the omentum was performed in the supine position. Then, the right gastroepiploic artery and vein were anastomosed with the left axillary artery and vein, respectively. The lung cavity, bleeding point of the pulmonary artery and the surface of the artificial pericardium were filled and covered by the supercharged omentum, and the skin was closed. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has had no bleeding, recurrence of empyema and thymoma or skin abnormalities at 36 months postoperatively. Supercharged free omental flap plombage was a useful option for treatment of an intractable chest infection involving an artificial pericardium.