Our department has pioneered several groundbreaking techniques in the field of refractory empyema and bronchopleural fistula management. We are the first in the country to successfully perform pedicled muscle flap transplantation for treating refractory empyema and bronchopleural fistula. Additionally, we have achieved international recognition for our innovative approaches, such as bronchial fistula occlusion using stents and the use of double-disc membrane-covered stents for bronchopleural fistula closure after resection surgery. Building upon this foundation, our department regularly employs muscle flap transplantation as a standard surgical treatment for refractory empyema. We have also embarked on exploratory treatments, including the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for empyema management and intracavitary occlusion for bronchopleural fistula treatment. Furthermore, we have developed techniques for early bronchopleural fistula repair using muscle flaps. As a department that has performed the highest number of related post-operative procedures worldwide, our experiences and achievements in these areas have been documented in numerous international core medical journals.