Thoracopleuromyoplasty as definitive cure for chronic pleural empyemas, after preparation by open thoracostomy]

Between 1979 and 1986, 30 patients with chronic pleural empyema (19 with pyothorax secondary to tuberculosis and 11 with pleural empyema following pulmonary resection) underwent two-stage treatment. The first stage consisted of open thoracostomy and was followed, 2 to 7 months later, by thoracopleuromyoplasty with latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior and pectoralis major muscles either alone or in combination. There was no operative mortality in this series of 30 operated patients. Definitive obliteraion of the pleural cavity and closure of the bronchial fistulae were obtained in 26 of the 30 patients. Partial necrosis of the muscle graft in the other 4 patients required further open drainage and an additional myoplasty. The long-term functional results in the cases of post-resection empyema were compatible with the restriction created by the pulmonary resection and, in the cases of empyema with a residual lung, with the restriction of the volume and perfusion of pulmonary parenchyma.     

The role of thoracoscopy in the treatment of pleural empyema in children

Background The treatment of empyema with pleural drainage is a widely accepted surgical procedure. Currently, thoracoscopy often is used to treat this disease in some thoracic surgery centers. This report aims to present the authors’ experience with the treatment of pleural empyema and the benefits of thoracoscopy. Methods From 1997 to 2005, 49 children with a diagnosis of pleural empyema were treated by means of thoracoscopy in the authors’ department. The study group consisted of 21 girls and 28 boys, ages 1 to 17 years (mean age, 9.2 years). Thoracoscopic cleaning and drainage of the pleural cavity was performed for all the patients. Results Intraoperatively, stage I empyema was recognized in 7 children (14.3%), stage II in 30 children (61.2%), and stage III in 12 children (24.5%). Very good results were obtained for all the patients. There were no intra- or postoperative major complications. The drainage time was less than 5 days for 63.3% of the children. In the remaining group of patients, drainage exceeded 8 days only for 16.3%. The postoperative time was short. Emptying of the pleural cavity and full lung decompression were achieved in all cases. In four cases, pleural biopsy showed TB, which enabled early proper treatment. Conclusions Thoracoscopy can offer good visualization and cleansing of the empyema chambers, establishing efficient drainage even for patients with advanced stages of pleural empyema. Thoracoscopy enables collection of material not only for bacteriologic, but also for histopathologic examination. The method is minimally invasive, and risk for complication is comparable with that for classical thorax drainage.     

Traumatic haemothorax--experience of a protocol for rapid turnover in 1,845 cases

Incomplete or prolonged drainage of the pleural cavity for haemothorax may lead to the development of empyema, with long-term morbidity. Using a protocol based on vigorous physiotherapy and early withdrawal of the thoracostomy tube (average drainage time 27.1 hours), hospital stay in 1,845 patients with traumatic haemothorax was 48 hours or less in 81.8% of patients. In all, 152 haemothorax patients (8.1%) required either early or late thoracotomy, 46 of which were for associated cardiac injury. Prophylactic antibiotics were not given routinely. Severe complications occurred in 40 patients (2.2%); 15 developed empyema (0.8%) and 25 died (1.4%), mainly from ongoing haemorrhage. The early identification of patients needing operative or other intervention minimises the hospital stay and complications associated with residual blood in the pleural cavity. This study shows that the short-period drainage protocol used gives very acceptable results in the treatment of traumatic haemothorax.     

Current indications and results of pulmonary decortication for nontuberculous chronic empyema

Pulmonary decortication for nontuberculous chronic empyema has become a rare operation, whose indications and results are now rarely analysed and discussed. The authors report a series of 40 consecutive decortications performed over a period of 15 years. PATIENTS: 40 patients treated by pulmonary decortication over 15 years for nontuberculous chronic empyema secondary to pneumonia (27 cases; 2/3 of cases), post-traumatic haemothorax (5 cases), iatrogenic infection after pleural tap (5 cases) and septicaemia (3 cases). Chronic empyema had been present for an average of 6 months (1 to 60 months). Decortication was performed for drainage of persistent pleural suppuration in 22 cases and to release the encysted lung in 18 cases. Decortication, always comprising parietal pleural stripping and visceral decortication, lasted an average of 3 hours (2 to 8 hours), and was accompanied by mean bleeding of 1 litre (of 200 ml to 3.41). RESULTS: 27 patients (67%) had an uneventful postoperative course, with drainage for 6 days and a mean hospital stay of 13 days. 13 patients (33%) developed various complications, mainly re-expansion defects (10 cases), responsible for pyothorax in 4 cases, 3 of which required secondary drainage. One patient died from intestinal obstruction in a context of peritoneal carcinomatosis (operative mortality: 2.5%). 25 patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 54 months, with complete pulmonary re-expansion in 23 cases (92%) and a residual pouch in 2 cases. Vital capacity (VC) was evaluated in 8 patients, with a mean improvement of 40% (15 to 66%) in 6 patients, stable VC in one patient, and a 25% reduction in the last patient, a smoker and with chronic bronchitis. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary decortication is an effective, but relatively major operation to treat chronic encysted empyema. Encystment must be prevented by effective drainage of empyema, now facilitated by the possibility of early videothoracoscopic pleural debridement.     

Postpneumonectomy empyema. The role of intrathoracic muscle transposition

Forty-five patients (36 male and nine female) were treated for postpneumonectomy empyema. All were initially managed with the first stage of the Clagett procedure (open pleural drainage). In 28 patients with associated bronchopleural fistula the fistula was closed and reinforced with muscle transposition at the time of open drainage. Seven patients had multiple flaps. The serratus anterior muscle was transposed in 28 patients, latissimus dorsi in 11, pectoralis major in four, pectoralis minor in one, and rectus abdominis in one patient. After the fistula was closed and the pleural cavity was clean, the second stage of the Clagett procedure (obliteration of the pleural cavity with antibiotic solution and closure of the open pleural window) was done. The number of operative procedures ranged from 1 to 19 (median 5.0). Length of hospitalization ranged from 4 to 137 days (median 34.0 days). There were six operative deaths (mortality rate 13.3%), none in the patients who had both stages of the Clagett procedure. Follow-up of the 39 operative survivors ranged from 2.1 to 90.2 months (median 21.8 months). Eighty-four percent of patients in whom the Clagett procedure was completed (26/31) had a healed chest wall with no evidence of recurrent infection. The bronchopleural fistula remained closed in 85.7% of patients (24/28). There were 19 late deaths, none related to postpneumonectomy empyema. We conclude that the Clagett procedure remains safe and effective in the management of postpneumonectomy empyema in the absence of bronchopleural fistula and that intrathoracic muscle transposition to reinforce the bronchial stump is an effective procedure in the control of postpneumonectomy-associated bronchopleural fistula.     

电视胸腔镜在脓胸治疗中的应用体会

目的探讨胸腔镜在脓胸治疗中的价值。方法 2002年1月至2011年11月对98例确诊脓胸在胸腔镜下清理和刮除脓苔,剥离纤维膜;对病程稍长,纤维粘连不易剥离者,胸腔镜辅助下小切口,术后彻底冲洗脓腔。结果 71例胸腔镜手术,18例辅助小切口手术,9例中转开胸手术。手术时间50～180min,平均80min;胸腔引流3～35d,平均12d。出院前胸片复查肺复张良好,无脓胸复发及并发症。结论胸腔镜手术或辅助小切口手术治疗脓胸安全、有效、微创。能达到清除病因、闭合脓腔、恢复肺功能的目的 ,特别是对病程较长、心肺功能差的患者尤为适合。     

Videothoracosopy in diagnosis and surgical treatment of tuberculosis

From 1993 to May 2001, 795 psychiatric patients were treated including 563 with pleural effusion, 98 with multiple or solitary tuberculoma, 69 with tuberculous empyema, 14 with fibrotic-cavitary tuberculosis, 51 with disseminated tuberculosis. Mean age of the patients was 32 years. Survey of pleural cavity with pleural or lung biopsy was performed in 691 patients. In tuberculoma 14 lobectomies were performed, 23 patients underwent atypical lung resection without stapler (including with precise technique). Bilateral on-stage interventions were made in 32 patients. In empyema necrectomy and lung decortication were performed. 14 patients underwent videocavernoscopy with sequestrectomy and cavity drainage. In disseminated tuberculosis lung biopsy without staplers was usually performed. Aerohemostasis was achieved with plasma stream. One patient with empyema and one patient with pleural effusion died (lethality was 0.25%). Rate of postoperative complications was 7.5% in tuberculoma and 1.5% in disseminated tuberculosis. Conversion to thoracotomy was necessary in 3 (3%) patients with tuberculoma and 12 (17%) patients with empyema. Mean hospital stay was 4 days after diagnostic surgery and 7 days after lung resection. In pleural effusion diagnosis was verified in 98% cases, in disseminated tuberculosis--in 100%. Videothoracoscopy is the best diagnostic method for pleural effusion and disseminated forms of lung tuberculosis and operation of choice in tuberculoma and empyema. Videothoracoscopy in tuberculosis is highly effective and associates with low rate of postoperative complications and lethality.     

Usefulness of thoracoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and management of thoracic diseases

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been recently utilised in the diagnosis and management of thoracic diseases. In this article we report our series of patients with established indications for VATS treatment. METHODS: Over the past 6 years we performed 104 VATS procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in 95 men and 39 women. The specific indications for VATS were: lung biopsy for undiagnosed diffuse lung disease, mediastinal biopsy and cysts, pleural effusion, empyema, pneumothorax and bullous lung disease, pericardial effusion and cyst, parvertebral abscess and solitary pulmonary nodules. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. Postoperative non-fatal complications were seen in 7 cases. The overall median duration of chest tube drainage was 2.5 days and the mean postoperative stay 3 days. In diffuse lung disease a tissue diagnosis was obtained in all cases. Definitive diagnosis in the patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion was obtained in 90% of cases and the overall diagnostic rate was 98.5%. The success rate of the empyema (stage II) treatment and the therapeutic procedures is 100% after a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 6-30). Conversion to thoracotomy was needed in 6 cases. In all patients the postoperative pain was controlled with intake of non-narcotic analgesics with satisfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: VATS is worth considering and has been established as procedure of choice, with exceptional results in various chest diseases such as undiagnosed pleural effusions, recurrent, post-traumatic or complicated spontaneous pneumothorax, stage II empyema, accurate staging for lung cancer in the resection of peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule less than 3 cm, and lung biopsy for pulmonary diffuse disease.     

Therapy of pleural empyema after pneumonectomy with open-window drainage and continuous rinsing]

From 1961 to 1977 24 thoracic empyemas (=4,75%) after 507 pneumonectomies were observed at the Surgical Clinic A of the Zurich University Hospital. Two methods for the management of this condition are discussed: open-window drainage (CLAGETT) and continuous rinsing of the pleural cavity (LUIZY). The first mentioned method proved to be a palliative one in our patients: no thoracostomy could be re-closed operatively. Two thoracic windows healed up spontaneously without recurrence of an empyema; one patient died shortly after the operation from respiratory insufficiency. Of the five patients treated by continuous rinsing, four were cured as for their empyema, but one of the latter died from renal insufficiency. In one case an open-window drainage finally had to be accomplished.     

Prophylaxis and therapy of infectious complications of lung surgery

Postoperative infections are a dreaded complication in pulmonal surgery. Besides the optimal preparation of the patients and careful operative technique, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis represents an important factor in avoiding infectious consequences. Owing particularly to the high proportion of patients with malignant, consumptious illnesses in thorax surgery, immune deficiencies must be reckoned with in this group of patients. The spectrum of germs to be expected within the framework of pulmonal surgery determines to some extent which antibiotic shall be used. We have investigated the efficacy of a standardized antibiotic prophylaxis using cefotaxime (Claforan) in 200 pulmonal patients. Pleural empyema is a rare, but nonetheless important infectious illness, as a consequence of pulmonal operations, or also following pneumonia. Whilst the early stages of an empyema can often be successfully treated using only drainage treatment, chronic empyema usually requires a thoracotomy with empyema dissection and excortication, as well as subsequent irrigation-suction drainage treatment. In spite of specific surgical sanitation and irrigation-suction drainage treatment, therapy is often complicated by persistent germs in the thoracic cavity. Instillation therapy with taurolidine can lead to faster healing of the infection in such cases. Purulent mediastinitis is an extremely rare illness, but dreaded owing to its high mortality. The causes of the illness lie in injuries of the trachea, of the bronchial tubes, and of the oesophagus. With the introduction of medial sternotomy as operative entry, mediastinitis as a postoperative complication has increased noticeably in frequency. Mediastinitis occurs as a descending infection as a consequence of odontogenic affections. Owing to frequently late diagnosis, infection is usually advanced, so that simple drainage treatment of the mediastinum no longer suffices in many cases. We introduce our concept of treatment using our own patient collective.     

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.     

胸廓造口开窗引流术在结核性脓胸伴支气管胸膜瘘中应用的疗效分析

【摘要】 目的 总结分析胸廓造口开窗引流术(OWT)在结核性脓胸伴支气管胸膜瘘中应用的治疗经验。方法 对我科在2003年至2012年56例结核性脓胸伴支气管胸膜瘘病例采用胸廓造口开窗引流术的外科治疗进行回顾性分析。本组病例胸廓造口开窗换药引流3~12个月后,分别采用Heller胸廓成形术加瘘修补术、胸膜外全肺切除术或余肺切除术、永久的开放性胸廓造口术等方法治疗。结果 全组患者有效地控制胸腔感染后,36例行Heller胸廓成形术加瘘修补术;14例胸膜外全肺切除术或余肺切除术后关闭胸廓造口,其中有5例术后出现围手术期胸腔再次感染并发症发生再次行胸廓造口术;6例患者选择永久的开放性胸廓造口开窗换药引流,无围术期死亡病例发生。结论 对结核性脓胸伴支气管胸膜瘘的患者应用胸廓造口术能有效地控制胸腔感染,降低死亡率,改善身体状况,为二期瘘修补术及消灭残腔手术创造有利条件并提高手术成功率。     

Prevention of bronchial fistula and empyema after resection and removal of the lung

Pulmonectomies in 231 patients and resections of a lung in 320 patients were followed by the development of bronchial fistulas in 33 patients (5.9%): after pneumonectomy--in 17 patients (7.3%) and after lobe- and bilobectomy in 16 patients (5%). Empyema of the pleura was noted in 20 patients (3.6%): in 12 patients (5.2%) and 8 patients (2.5%) correspondingly. Seventeen of 53 patients with these complications died. The use of a manual method of suturing the bronchus without a stump with the local application of fibrinogen, complex bronchological sanitation and intraoperative bronchofibroscopy (drainage of the pleural cavity after pneumonectomy with the following filling of the cavity with an antiseptic solution and formation of the selective pneumoperitoneum) allowed to decrease the incidence of bronchial fistulas in 102 patients to 2.9%, and empyema of the pleura--to 1.9%.     

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.     

支气管胸膜瘘合并难治性脓胸个体化综合治疗分析

目的总结和分析支气管胸膜瘘合并难治性脓胸个体化综合治疗的方法和疗效。 方法2015年7月—2019年11月共收治支气管胸膜瘘合并难治性脓胸患者12例,其中男性10例,女性2例;年龄23～78岁,平均(60.75±15.05)岁。初始手术为非小细胞肺癌4例,肺部良性疾病4例,包裹性胸腔积液3例,恶性胸腺瘤肺转移1例。胸膜瘘发生后,采取经脓胸引流控制感染和介入封堵瘘口治疗;病情基本稳定后,行肌瓣移植术填塞脓腔等综合措施,并根据病情进行个体化治疗。 结果全组无围手术期死亡病例;在平均17.45个月的随访中,1例患者因肿瘤转移死亡;1例复发小脓腔;其余10例无支气管胸膜瘘和脓胸复发,肌瓣存活,复查胸部CT/MRI显示脓腔被彻底填塞。 结论对支气管胸膜瘘合并难治性脓胸患者采取个体化综合治疗措施,能达到彻底根治的目的,成功率高,疗效显著,值得推广。     

Gotthard Bülau and closed water-seal drainage for empyema, 1875-1891

Optimal treatment of pleural empyema remains controversial to the present day. In the preantibiotic era, surgical thinking favored early and aggressive drainage of closed-space infections, but the dynamics of the pleural space were poorly understood and open pneumothorax generally was considered the necessary price of surgical drainage. Against bitter opposition, revision of the dogma of early open drainage was achieved in 1918 by Evarts Graham and his associates on the US Army's Empyema Commission. Unacceptable mortality rates for early drainage were brought under control through a treatment program of repeated tapping, with surgical drainage only after loculation had occurred. Paradoxically, closed water-seal drainage for empyema had been used by a German internist, Gotthard Bülau, as early as 1875. His technique was published in 1891, 27 years before the report of the Empyema Commission. As a closed system, it would have been suited to empyema drainage in either the early diffuse or the loculated stages. Thoracotomy was not possible at the time, and Bülau probably could not foresee the future importance of his method to surgery.     

Surgical treatment of acute and chronic empyema

In conclusion we would emphasize the fact that operation for acute empyema thoracis is not an emergency, second that aspiration or the closed operation should be employed in all cases in which the pleural fluid is not frank pus. Third, that x-ray studies in all pulmonary conditions is not an admission on the part of the practitioner of the lack of knowledge of symptoms and clinical signs but rather indicates his thoroughness in that he wants to see the existing pathology. Fourth, that proper drainage regardless of the method employed will not only cure most cases of acute empyema but will prevent chronic empyema. Fifth, if chronic empyema does occur plastic operation on the chest wall is followed by a lower mortality and better results than any other operation designed to obliterate the empyema cavity.     

Hydatid cyst of the liver with intrathoracic rupture.

In the last 10 years we have operated on 33 cases of hydatid cyst of the liver with intrathoracic rupture. Twenty-one out of 33 cases ruptured into bronchi, in seven the rupture affected the pleural cavity, and in six simultaneous rupture into the bronchus and pleural cavity occurred. Laboratory tests were not carried out in all cases. The Casoni intradermal test was carried out in 23 cases and was positive in 18. A liver scan was performed in 10 and was positive in all. Conservative operations were carried out in 22 patients. In these the hepatic cavity was evacuated and separately drained. This was followed by suturing the diaphragmatic rupture and also closing the bronchial opening if present. Lung resections were performed in 11 out of 33 cases. In eight lobectomy was carried out and in three segmental resections. Resection was necessary when suppuration and bronchiectatic changes affected the lung. Ruptured cyst into the pleural cavity requires emergency thoracotomy after the anaphylactic shock is over. Removal of the parasite, re-expansion of the lung, and drainage of the pleural and hepatic cavities is necessary. Immediate and late complications occurred in 13 patients. In two postoperative haemorrhage occurred and in two postoperative empyema developed. Recurrent haemoptysis was seen in five, persistent bile fistula in one, and dissemination of hydatid cyst in three. In the remaining 20 cases there was no complication. Operative mortality was nil.     

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.     

Comparison between irrigation and conventional treatment for empyema and pneumonectomy space infection.

A new method of treating pleural empyema or pneumonectomy space infection by irrigation was evaluated in 11 patients. The infected cavities were filled with an antibiotic or antiseptic solution for three hours, and allowed to drain for one hour. This cycle was repeated every four hours for seven to 10 days. When cultures of the infected cavity became sterile the irrigation tube was removed and the wound sealed. Using this method, infection was eradicated after an average of 11 days in five of six patients with pleural empyema and in all five patients treated for an infected pneumonectomy space, including one with a bronchopleural fistula. The results of treating 58 similar cases of intrapleural sepsis over a 10-year period by the standard methods of aspiration, open drainage, decortication, or thoracoplasty were compared with the results of irrigation. In general, cyclical irrigation resulted in a shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of wound drainage than other methods.