bronchopleural fistula

A communication between a bronchus & the pleural cavity. Etiology: 1) empyema draining through the bronchus 2) lung abscess invading pleural cavity Clinical manifestations: 1) chronic cough 2) large volume of purulent sputum 3) dullness to percussion may be restricted to lower hemithorax 4) absent breath sounds may be restricted to lower hemithorax 5) succussion splash 6) coin sound Laboratory: - injection of methylene blue dye into the pleural cavity results in dye appearing in the sputum Radiology: - hydropneumothorax

General

pleural fistula bronchial fistula

References

DeGowin & DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination, 6th edition, RL DeGowin (ed), McGraw Hill, NY 1994, pg 870-71