Benefits of early aggressive management of empyema thoracis


Bilgin M., Akcali Y. F., Oguzkaya F.

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, vol.76, no.3, pp.120-122, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 76 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03666.x
  • Journal Name: ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.120-122
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The end-target of the management of thoracic empyema is to obtain early rehabilitation by re-expansion of the trapped lung resulting from intrapleural infected material. Our aim was to shorten the hospitalization time and to prevent a possible thoracotomy by using video-assisted thoracoscopy initially. METHODS: Seventy patients with parapneumonic empyema were prospectively studied between January 1997 and June 2004. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group I (n = 35 patients), a chest tube was inserted into the patients after pleural content was evacuated and fibrins were debrided using video-assisted thoracoscopy. In group II (n = 35 patients), tube thoracostomy was carried out without using a video-assisted thoracoscope. Both groups were compared in terms of hospitalization time, open surgery for decortication and complications. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups from the point of view of age and sex (P > 0.05). In group I, 17.1% of the patients underwent open decortication, whereas in group II, 37.1% of the patients underwent the same procedure (P < 0.05). Whereas average hospital stay in group I was 8.3 days (range, 7-11 days), it was 12.8 days in group II (range, 10-18 days; P < 0.05). There was one bronchopleural fistula in group I, and there was one bronchopleural fistula and one death in group II. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thoracoscopic evacuation and chest tube insertion in situ is a new therapeutic approach for pleural empyema that shortens hospital stay and reduces the necessity of open decortication.
Bckground: The end-target of the management of thoracic empyema is to obtain early rehabilitation by re-expansion of the trapped lung resulting from intrapleural infected material. Our aim was to shorten the hospitalization time and to prevent a possible thoracotomy by using video-assisted thoracoscopy initially.