bronchopleural fistula

Introduction

A communication between a bronchus & the pleural cavity.

Etiology

• empyema draining through the bronchus
• lung abscess invading pleural cavity

Clinical manifestations

• chronic cough
• large volume of purulent sputum
• dullness to percussion may be restricted to lower hemithorax
• absent breath sounds may be restricted to lower hemithorax
• succussion splash
• coin sound

Laboratory

• injection of methylene blue dye into the pleural cavity results in dye appearing in the sputum

Radiology

• hydropneumothorax

More general terms

• pleural fistula
• bronchial fistula