Empyema (infection in the chest), post drainage via an extended Eloesser Flap. This man came in 3 months ago near death from an empyema. We drained the chest by removing 2 ribs and packing the chest with gauze daily. This allowed the pus to drain. If you look in the hole you can see the inside of the chest. The cavity has shrunk 50% in the last 3 months and the patient has gained about 15 pounds. This simple procedure (rather than a decortication), can be life-saving.
