Thoracoscopic debridement for acute pediatric empyema: efficacy of ultrasonic surgical device.

Few studies have examined thoracoscopic treatment for pediatric empyema. We encountered three children with thoracic empyema successfully treated by thoracoscopic debridement. Patients were a 3-year-old girl, a 17 month-old boy and a 13-year-old girl who developed thoracic empyema during therapy for pneumonia. We performed dissection and debridement under thoracoscopy and resolved fibrinopurulent collections using an ultrasonic surgical device in two cases to search the dissection plane while minimizing injury to the lung parenchyma. Ultrasonic surgical device (USUTM) is very useful for performing effective debridement and irrigation with minimal pleural damage. Thoracoscopic debridement performed early in the course of therapy is recommended even for acute pediatric empyema and could prevent the unnecessary open surgical intervention or decortication.     

Balloon-assisted single-port thoracoscopic debridement in children with thoracic empyema

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated the results of a balloon-aided single-port thoracoscopic debridement of late-stage thoracic empyema in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed age, gender, duration of prehospital illness, physical findings, surgical interventions, and the morbidity in 12 children with late-stage parapneumonic empyema. The diagnosis of pleural effusion was confirmed by a thoracocentesis before thoracoscopy. A balloon connected to a 12 F feeding tube was inserted into the thoracic cavity and inflated with air before the enterance of the thoracoscope. By this maneuver, a cavity was formed just under the enterance point. Thereafter, a routine debridement and chest irrigation was performed by thoracoscopy. Only one port was inserted in all but 1 patient, and the telescope was used as a dissecting tool. A thorax tube was inserted through the port site at the end of the procedure and left for the drainage. RESULTS: The main symptoms of the patients were dyspnea, cough, and fever. The empyema was located on the right hemithorax in 5 patients and on the left side in 7 patients. A second port was necessary to enhance the dissection in 1 case. The chest tube was removed within 3-30 days (median, 11 days) after the surgical approach. No complication directly related to the procedure was seen. The only problems postoperatively were a self-limited and spontaneously resolved bronchopleural fistula in 4 patients, and we had to perform an additional thoracoscopy to resolve the remaining intrapleural adhesions in 1 child. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic debridement in patients with late-stage thoracic empyema may be very beneficial, and this treatment method may provide any further thoracotomy. A balloon inflated in the thoracic cavity may achieve a wider field of vision for thorascopic surgery, and single-port thoracoscopy is sufficient and safe for the dissection.     

Thoracoscopic treatment of pleural empyema

From August 1991 to May 1997 46 patients with pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent phase underwent thoracoscopic surgery. There were 36 men and 10 women with an average age of 47 years ranging from 18 to 84. The average operating time was 77 minutes. When only one thoracostomy drain was inserted, the drainage time was 8.5 days, if two or three drainage tubes were used it was 10.5 days. The average hospital stay was 18.1 day (range from 7 to 45). We observed ten complications. Four operations had to be converted to an open procedure because of massive thickening and fibrosis of the pleura. Three patients did not tolerate one lung ventilation, once the lung did not collapse due to technical reasons and in one patient each we observed a laceration of the parenchyma and bleeding from the parenchyma. In both cases the problem was dealt with thoracoscopically. We observed a recurrent pleural empyema in four patients which occurred between the 28th and 77th postoperative day. In summary, thoracoscopic surgery in patients with pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent phase is an effective and well tolerated alternative to open thoracotomy.     

Debridement alone without decortication can achieve lung re-expansion in patients with empyema: an observational study

Decortication is widely performed for empyema, but the effectiveness in achieving lung re-expansion has never been formally reported. The aim of this study is to quantify the degree of lung re-expansion in comparison to that achieved naturally after debridement alone. A retrospective review of patients who underwent either decortication or debridement for empyema between 2007 and 2009. The change of the cavity size with time were standardized and recorded before, immediately after surgery and on follow-up. Of 25 patients who underwent surgical management of empyema, 16 (64%) underwent debridement alone and nine (36%) underwent decortication. The mean age (standard deviation) was 58 (19) years and 15 (60%) were male. On radiological follow-up at a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 45 (36-116) days, further reduction of 36% and 34% was achieved leaving 27% and 12% of the original cavity size in the debridement and decortication groups, respectively. Procedure (debridement or decortication) was not associated with any difference to the eventual follow-up cavity size (P = 0.937). Similar follow-up results were achieved by debridement alone without decortication in patients presenting with empyema, despite the presence of an underlying trapped lung.     

Pleural empyema and lung abscess: current treatment options

Parapneumonic pleural empyema has been classified into different stages and classes. While the American Thoracic Society (ATS) classification is based on the natural course of the disease, Light has classified pleural empyema according to the radiological, physical and biochemical characteristics, and the American College of Chest Physician (ACCP) has categorised the patients with pleural empyema according to the risk of a poor outcome. According to this classification the management of the pleural empyema is based on the stage of the disease. Therapeutic strategies include chest tube, chest tube with fibrinolysis, thoracoscopic debridement and decortication in open or minimally invasive techniques. Primary lung abscesses develop in previously healthy lung parenchyma and are caused by aspiration. In addition, abscess formation can occur without aspiration, and important differences relate to community-acquired, nosocomial abscesses and those in the immunosuppressed host. 90 % of all lung abscesses can be cured with antibiotic treatment alone, 10 % have to be treated with an interventional catheter or chest tubes and only 1 % require thoracic surgery because of complications independent of the former conservative or interventional treatment strategies.     

Transparasternal transpericardial operation in the treatment of chronic empyema with bronchopleural fistula

A 78-year-old man with a lung destroyed by chronic empyema underwent pleuropneumonectomy, 4 months after open-window thoracostomy, via a transparasternal transpericardial approach. This approach is safe and effective in great vessel and bronchus dissection and applicable to cases of persistent chronic empyema such as our.     

Pleural empyema complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax treated with thoracoscopic debridement and pleural irrigation: case report

A 69-year-old man who had experienced spontaneous left pneumothorax one week previously was admitted to our hospital for the management of left empyema thoracis. Because the symptoms did not resolve with antibiotic therapy and chest tube drainage, thoracoscopic debridement and pleural irrigation were performed in the fibrinopurulent phase 4 days after admission. The postoperative course was uneventful. This procedure is minimally invasive and effective in the treatment of acute empyema.     

Pleuropneumonectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic tuberculous empyema

Surgical intervention is often necessary to treat either the active pulmonary tuberculosis or its sequelae such as destroyed lung, tuberculous empyema, and bronchial stenosis. Pleuropneumonectomy, which has been reported to be associated with high mortality and morbidity, is performed when the pleural space is completely obliterated due to previous inflammation or when preoperative empyema is complicated. In this article we report 3 patients receiving pleuropneumonectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis or chronic tuberculous empyema in recent 3 years. The mean operation time is 5 hours and 56 minutes, and the mean volume of intraoperative bleeding amounted to 1,417 ml. Autologous blood transfusion was prepared for all 3 patients and transfused them during the operation. No mortality, but postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients (67%) with a history of diabetes mellitus. They were sternum infection and bronchopleural fistula, which were successfully treated conservatively. Diabetes mellitus is thought to be a major risk factor for not only tuberculous disease itself, but also postoperative morbidity. As for surgical techniques, wide skin incision with multiple thoracotomy is necessary to keep a good operative field, and special care must be taken for great vessels and nerves at extrapleural dissection. We conclude that pleuropneumonectomy is relatively risky but effective surgical procedure for adequately selected patients with destroyed lung and tuberculous empyema.     

Bronchoscopic sclerotherapy combined with thoracoscopic drainage for postpneumonectomy bronchial fistula and empyema

A postpneumonectomy bronchial fistula is a very morbid complication that often requires major surgical procedures for treatment. Since patients with postpneumonectomy bronchial fistula and empyema are physiologically compromised, corrective surgical interventions pose considerable risk. We report a case of a postpneumonectomy fistula with an associated empyema. Our patient's empyema was treated with thoracoscopic debridement and antibiotic instillation (modification of the Clagett procedure). Bronchoscopic and thoracoscopic treatment strategies that are appropriate for selected patients with postpneumonectomy bronchial fistula and empyema are discussed.     

Acute empyema with intraoperative intractable air leaks in a child; report of a case

We report a case of acute empyema with intraoperative intractable air leaks in a child. A 4-year-old girl was admitted with parapneumonic empyema by Staphylococcus aureus. Conventional conservative therapies such as antibiotics, chest tube drainage were failed. Then we performed dissection and debridement with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in fibrinopurulent phase of acute empyema. Intraoperative findings showed that the parietal pleura was very weak by Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Air leaks occurred,but pleural defects could not be closed by sutures and ligations. We could seal intractable air leaks to use fibrin glue soaked bioabsorbable polyglycolic acid felt sheet. Lung expansion promptly recovered and the patient was discharged on the 34th postoperative day without complications.     

Thoracoscopic-assisted management of postpneumonic empyema in children refractory to medical response

Background: Empyema frequently complicates the hospitalization of children; and in advanced stages, it often requires surgical intervention. In this study, we investigated the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the management of postpneumonic empyema in children who have had an unsatisfactory medical response. Methods: We did a retrospective review of the medical records of 51 consecutive patients with loculated empyema (mean age, 5 years; range, 2 months to 15 years) hospitalized at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1995 and 2000. All patients underwent debridement of the necrotic lung tissue and evacuation of the loculated empyema cavity using a VATS approach. Results: The mean operating time for the 51 patients was 90 min (range, 50–210); mean blood loss was 70 cc. Fever subsided within 72 h postoperatively in all patients. On average, chest tubing was removed on the 7th postoperative day (range, 4–18 days). However, in one patient who suffered from a prolonged air leak, the chest tube was not removed until day 18. The mean postoperative stay for all patients was 13.7 days (range, 9–23). No deaths occurred, and all of the children made a good recovery. A follow-up revealed that one of the 51 children patient suffered a left upper lung abscess 7 months after discharge. Left upper lobectomy was performed in this case, and the patient was discharged uneventfully 10 days after the operation. Conclusions: VATS is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric empyema. Thoracoscopic-assisted surgery facilitates visualization, evacuation, and debridement of the necrotizing lung tissue. Early surgical intervention can avoid lengthy hospitalization and prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy, and it can accelerate clinical recovery.     

Surgical treatment of pleural empyema--changing priorities

The surgical management of pleural empyema and post-traumatic clotted haemothorax is described. The study included 15 cases of post-thoracotomy empyema, 23 of empyema of other aetiology and five of post-traumatic haemothorax. Chest-tube drainage was the first measure in most cases. Post-pneumonectomy empyema was treated with partial thoracoplasty plus omentoplasty (8 cases) or plus myoplasty (1 case). Empyema after lobectomy or bilobectomy (4 cases) or after failed decortication (1 case) was managed with thoracoplasty or, in cases of concomitant wound infection, with open-window thoracostomy followed by thoracoplasty. Empyema after subclavian artery reconstruction (1 case) was cleared by removal of a previously unrecognized foreign body. For early empyema of other aetiology or haemothorax (10 cases in total), treatment comprised debridement by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). VATS was also used to establish suitable pleural drainage prior to elective thoracotomy (2 cases). Decortication and partial parietal pleurectomy were performed for organizing-stage empyema (16 cases). Three of the 15 patients with post-thoracotomy empyema died perioperatively, one died two months postoperatively and one had recurrence of bronchopleural fistula during follow-up. One patient with VATS debridement subsequently required thoracotomy and lobectomy for lung abscess. All the others with VATS or decortication recovered without complications. During follow-up there was no mortality or recurrence of empyema.     

Thoracic blastomycosis and empyema.

Blastomycosis is endemic in river valley areas of the southeastern and Midwestern United States. Pulmonary manifestations include chronic cough and pleuritic pain. Radiographic appearance of the infection can mimic bronchogenic lung carcinoma. Pleural effusion is rarely associated with this pulmonary infection, and empyema has not been previously reported. We report a case of pulmonary and pleural Blastomyces dermatitidis infection presenting as empyema thoracis. Diagnosis and treatment were attained with video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) pleural and lung biopsy and debridement.     

Prevention of recurrent empyema after pneumonectomy for chronic infection.

OBJECTIVES: Pneumonectomy in chronic pulmonary infection with empyema is associated with a high mortality rate and an increased risk of recurrent empyema. The surgical resection is technically demanding, and successful management continues to be a challenge. METHODS: We evaluated a concept which combines (pleuro-)pneumonectomy or completion pneumonectomy with surgical debridement of the pleural cavity and packing with povidine-iodine soaked dressings. The debridement and packing is repeated in the operating theater after 48 h until the chest cavity is macroscopically clean. Finally, the pleural space is obliterated with antibiotic solution. RESULTS: Between February 1997 and October 2000, 11 patients (average age of 59 years, ranging from 25 to 84) with destroyed lung caused by tuberculosis (six), aspergilloma (two), bronchiectasis (one), esophago-pleural fistula (one) or broncho-pleural fistula after lobectomy for bronchial carcinoma (one) and ongoing chronic infection with acute empyema (ten) (25-2500 days between first and definitive therapy) were treated. Pleural culture findings showed Aspergillus in four, Mycobacterium in two, Enterococcus in two, Candida in one and Staphylococcus in one, respectively. The mean number of interventions was 2.9 (2-4). The chest was definitively closed in all patients within 1 week. The mean hospitalization time was 19 days (9-31 days).In the follow-up (10-54 months), there was no recurrence of empyema. One patient (84 years) died at day 31, due to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonectomy combined with repeated surgical debridement and antimicrobial therapy enables the successful treatment of chronic pulmonary infection with empyema within a short time period.     

Surgical treatment of chronic empyema

Empyema remains challenging for thoracic surgeons. This review covers diverse aspects of acute empyema and chronic empyema and its surgical treatment. The triphasic nature of thoracic empyema (stages I, II, and III) is also addressed. The principles of empyema treatment are early diagnosis and early treatment. For acute empyema (empyema in stages I and II), early surgical intervention, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic débridement, is recommended when conventional chest tube drainage has failed. Radical treatments of chronic empyema (empyema in stage III) include (1) removal of the empyema space (decortication with or without lung resection) and (2) obliteration of the pleural space with muscle flaps or omentum flaps, or by thoracoplasty. Decortication is the procedure of choice for patients with reexpandable underlying lung. When bronchopleural fistula exists in the underlying lung, the fistula should be securely closed. For those patients whose underlying lung cannot be expected to reexpand, the procedure of choice is either concomitant removal of the affected lung with the empyema space or obliteration of the pleural space. For patients who are not eligible for the above-mentioned radical treatment, open-window thoracostomy can be considered. This procedure is not only performed as a definitive treatment of empyema but also as a preparatory treatment for radical procedures. Radical procedures are performed when patients recuperate. Choosing the most suitable operation based on the stages of empyema, the conditions of the underlying lung, and the conditions of a patient holds the key to success.     

Thoracoscopic debridement and pleural irrigation in the management of empyema thoracis

As a sequel to a paper reporting good results obtained in 12 patients with empyema thoracis treated by thoracoscopic debridement and irrigation in our department, subsequent experience with a further 18 patients is reported. Drainage of pus and irrigation resulted in resolution of pyrexia with improvement in general condition in all patients. Overall, complete resolution was obtained by this technique alone in 60% (18/30). Of the 12 patients in whom complete resolution was not obtained, secondary surgical measures resulted in resolution of empyema in 8. Four patients died; all were elderly and severely debilitated, 3 with advanced malignancy. Their deaths were not related to the technique, which was well tolerated in all cases. Thoracoscopic debridement and irrigation used routinely as a first-line measure in empyema thoracis is a safe and relatively atraumatic procedure, does not exclude the use of any subsequent surgical measure, and provides valuable time to improve the condition of debilitated patients so that they may tolerate more aggressive surgical procedures.     

Video-thoracoscopic and open surgical management of thoracic empyema

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of video-thoracoscopic and open surgical management of patients with thoracic empyema. METHODS: We studied 122 patients retrospectively who underwent surgery for thoracic empyema in our hospital between January, 1999 and January, 2005. Patients' medical records, surgical procedures, and outcomes were reviewed. The study identified 97 affected men and 25 affected women with a mean age of 54 years (range 16-78 years). The empyema was parapneumonic in 95 patients (78%). RESULTS: Forty-four patients who had stage II empyema underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The procedure was converted to thoracotomy in 13 patients (29.5%); the morbidity and mortality rates of VATS were 13% and 0, respectively. Seventy-eight patients had stage III empyema and, along with those 13 who were converted, underwent thoracotomy for decortication. The associated morbidity rate was 12%, and the mortality rate was 6.6%. Thoracotomy was considered successful in 90 of 91 patients (99%); one patient needed a reoperative thoracotomy for an organ space/surgical site infection with pus in the pleural cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Many treatment modalities are available for thoracic empyema, depending on the results of appropriate clinical and laboratory investigations. In fibrinopurulent empyema, VATS debridement is safe and effective, with minimal morbidity and no deaths. Lung decortication via thoracotomy is the only option for organized empyema and is associated with a substantial mortality rate.     

Pediatric thoracoscopic training in an experimental pleural empyema rabbit model

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopy has proved to be effective in the treatment of stage 2 (fibrinopurulent) empyema, but this technique requires different abilities from those needed in open surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of an experimental empyema in rabbits as a thoracoscopic training model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized with acepromazine and ketamine. A Veress needle was introduced into the pleural space, and a turpentine and saline solution were injected. Twenty-four hours later, 1016 colony-forming units of Escherichia coli and 1 g of agar in 1 mL of saline solution were injected. The rabbits were operated on 96 hours after bacterial injection by 30 pediatric surgeons attending a hands-on pediatric laparoscopic course. The contralateral lung was selectively intubated and three ports were placed to perform an empyema debridement. The surgeons evaluated the model using subjective criteria from an evaluation form. RESULTS: One animal died (5%) and 2 (10%) did not form empyema. The other 17 rabbits (85%) presented with a fibrinopurulent empyema. All usual surgical steps could be performed. As regards the surgeons' opinion of the model, 23 (76.7%) considered it very good while 7 (23.3%) thought it was good. Twenty-three (76.7%) answered that the empyema stage was correct for thoracoscopic treatment. CONCLUSION: As reflected by our experience and the survey completed by the 30 pediatric surgeons, this empyema model in rabbits is very useful for thoracoscopic training.     

Intrapleural streptokinase in the management of empyema.

BACKGROUND--Significant morbidity and mortality result from the ineffective evacuation of empyema. Failure of conventional first line treatment with closed intercostal tube drainage and antibiotic therapy may result in fibrin deposition and loculated empyema. Enzymatic debridement using intrapleural instillation of streptokinase is a non-invasive therapeutic option which may obviate the need for surgical intervention. METHODS--Eleven adults with multiloculated post-pneumonic empyemas who had failed to respond satisfactorily to intercostal tube drainage and antibiotic therapy were treated with intrapleural streptokinase between November 1992 and January 1994. A small catheter was inserted under ultrasound guidance into a loculation within the pleural space. Aliquots of 250,000 units of streptokinase in 100 ml normal saline were instilled into the pleural cavity and the tube clamped for four hours. Response was assessed by clinical outcome, measurement of drain output after unclamping, and subsequent pleural ultrasound, chest radiography, or both. RESULTS--Streptokinase enhanced drainage in all patients. Complete resolution of the empyema with re-expansion of the underlying lung was effected in eight patients, all of whom remain well. Further resolution of minimal pleural thickening was shown on subsequent chest radiographs. Two patients with considerably thickened visceral pleura following empyema drainage underwent successful decortication. The other, with myocarditis and a pyopneumothorax, underwent surgery for non-resolution of the pneumothorax but died perioperatively from cardiac failure. The number of streptokinase instillations per patient ranged from two to six (median three), and the volume of empyema fluid drained per patient ranged from 100 ml to 4870 ml (median 900 ml). Streptokinase was well tolerated in all patients. CONCLUSIONS--Intrapleural streptokinase is an effective adjunct in the management of complicated empyema and may reduce the need for surgery.     

THORACOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS REVISITED

Pleural effusion is a commonly encountered clinical condition. We report our experience with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the management of pleural effusions in three groups of patients: (1) Patients with cryptogenic pleural effusions for diagnosis; (2) patients with established malignant effusions for talc insufflation and limited decortication; and (3) patients with early empyema for debridement and drainage. From September 1992 to March 1994, we have successfully managed 28 patients with pleural effusions (12 males, 16 females; age ranged from 22 days to 73 years). Management consisted of 16 diagnostic thoracoscopies with guided pleural biopsies, seven limited decortications for trapped lungs, 12 talc insufflation for recurrent symptomatic malignant effusions and debridement and drainage of tive empyemata. There was no mortality or intra-operative complications. The procedure was tolerated well by all patients. The mean duration of chest drainage and hospital stay were I.2 and 2.8 days for group 1 patients, 4.5 and 6.4 days for group 2, and 5.6 and 7.1 days for group 3. Specitic histological diagnosis was obtained in all but two patients (88%). Thoracoscopic talc insufflation was successful in 92% of cases at mean follow up of 8 months. Thoracoscopic debridement and drainage of empyema resulted in rapid resolution of sepsis in all cases. Advances in video camera technology and instrumentation have allowed more therapeutic manoeuvres to be carried out. We conclude that VATS is a safe and effective way of managing selected patients with pleural effusions.