[A case of esophagopleural fistula successfully cured by conservative therapy after middle and lower lobectomy of right lung].

We experience a case of esophagopleural fistula successfully cured by conservative therapy after the lung cancer operation. A 46-year-old man was received middle and lower lobectomy for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right lung. Complication of empyema associated with an esophagopleural fistula occurred on postoperative 4th day. Conservative therapy of nothing by mouth, intravenous hyperalimentation and antibiotics was started. Three thoracic drains were inserted and the thoracic irrigation of total 3,000 ml warm saline per day twice on one day was continued. The esophagopleural fistula was closed on 6th week and the patient was discharged on 11th week after the therapy start. This complication is much rare, but recent advance in the diagnostic methods seemed to increase the indication of conservative therapy in future.