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- Title
Evaluation of management of postpneumonic empyema thoracis in children.
- Authors
Sahin, Atalay; Meteroglu, Fatih; Eren, Sevval; Eren, Canan; Celik, Yusuf
- Abstract
Empyema is a well-known sequelae of pneumonia, which is increasingly being reported in children despite strict management. The appropriate management remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate different management options of postpneumonic empyema in children.A total of 330 patients were reviewed between 2002 and 2012; their ages ranged from 1.25 to 15 years, with a median age of 4.3 years. The various management procedures included thoracentesis (n=11), chest tube drainage (n=229), chest tube drainage with intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (n=117), video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (n=35), and thoracotomy because of a trapped lung noted on admissions and failed procedures (n=94).Variable success rates were noted as follows: tube thoracotomy (48.24%), fibrinolytic treatment (68.37%), and VATS (85.71%). Postoperative complications (11.14%) included wound infection (n=10), atelectasis (n=18), delayed expansion (n=7), and need for reoperation (n=2). Four patients died (1.21%), two of them following thoracotomy, one patient after fibrinolysis, and one patient following VATS. Patients treated with thoracotomy recovered completely.New therapeutic modalities had variable success rates in children with postpneumonic empyema. Thoracotomy is still needed as a last resort for cases unresponsive to chemical fibrinolysis and following failed thoracoscopy.
- Publication
Annals of Pediatric Surgery, 2013, Vol 9, Issue 4, p131
- ISSN
1687-4137
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1097/01.XPS.0000434491.39619.8c