Early use of intrapleural fibrinolytics in the management of postpneumonic empyema. A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective randomized study was conducted in order to analyze the role of fibrinolytics in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion. METHODS: From 2001 to 2004, 127 consecutive patients were managed for thoracic empyema. In all cases the cause was bacterial pneumonia. Seventy patients were managed with sole tube thoracostomy (group A) and 57 with combination of tube thoracostomy and streptokinase instillation (group B). Groups were statistically compared for the age, gender, duration of symptoms, quality of pleural fluid, chest imaging, complete drainage, length of hospital stay and mortality. Multivariate analysis was used in order to define the factors that affect outcome. RESULTS: Tube thoracostomy was successful in 47 (67.1%) cases (group A), while fibrinolysis led to a favorable outcome in 50 cases (87.7%) (P<0.05). The length of stay in thoracic surgical department was significantly longer for group A (P<0.001). Mortality rate in group A was significantly higher (P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis disclosed as sole independent favorable factor for pleural drainage, the use of fibrinolysis during the course of chest tube drainage (P=0.006, odds ratio 4.29, 95% CI 1.51-12.14). CONCLUSIONS: Fibrinolytic agents are a useful adjunct in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions. Intrapleural fibrinolytics, if used early in the fibrinopurulent stage of a parapneumonic effusion, decrease the rate of surgical interventions (VATS or open decortcation) and the length of hospital stay with minor associated morbidity.     

Is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery the best treatment for paediatric pleural empyema?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the best treatment for paediatric pleural empyema. Altogether 274 papers were found using the reported search, of which 15 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. We conclude that early VATS (or thoracotomy if VATS not possible) leads to shorter hospitalisation. The duration of chest tube placement and antibiotic use is variable and does not correlate with treatment method. Patients who underwent primary operative therapy had a lower aggregate in-hospital mortality rate (0% vs. 3.3%), re-intervention rate (2.5% vs. 23.5%), length of stay (10.8 days vs. 20.0 days), duration of tube thoracostomy (4.4 days vs. 10.6 days), and duration of antibiotic therapy (12.8 days vs. 21.3 days), compared with patients who underwent non-operative therapy. Similar complication rates were observed for the two groups (5% vs. 5.6%). Moreover, median hospital charges for VATS were $36,320 [interquartile range (IQR), $24,814-$62,269]. The median pharmacy and radiological imaging charges were $5884 (IQR, $3142-$11,357) and $2875 (IQR, $1703-$4950), respectively, for VATS and tube drainage. Adjusting for propensity score matching, costs for primary VATS were equivalent to primary chest tube placement. Only one article found discordant results. Ninety-five children (52%) received antibiotics alone, and 87 (45%) underwent drainage procedures (21 chest tube alone, 57 VATS/thoracotomy, and eight chest tube followed by VATS/thoracotomy); only four received fibrinolytics. Mean (standard deviation) length of stay was significantly shorter in the antibiotics alone group, 7.0 (3.5) days vs. 11 (4.0) days. The strongest predictors of undergoing pleural drainage were admission to the intensive care unit and large effusion size (>1/2 thorax filled).     

Pleural fluid pH: diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic value

Measurement of pleural fluid pH has diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications in exudative pleural effusions (Table II). A parapneumonic effusion with a pleural fluid pH below 7.2 indicates an empyema is forming which necessitates chest tube drainage in all patients, whereas a pleural fluid pH over 7.3 does not require drainage. If the pH of a parapneumonic effusion is 7.2 to 7.3, serial pleural fluid pH measurements with clinical observation will help to determine the need for chest tube drainage. A pleural fluid glucose level of below 60 mg/dl and a lactic dehydrogenase level over 1,000 IU/dl in conjunction with a pleural fluid pH of 7.2 to 7.3 indicate an impending empyema. These findings are consistent with our clinical experience in patients with parapneumonic effusion. Tuberculous pleural effusions had a pleural fluid pH below 7.4 in all reported patients. This pH may be of value in distinguishing tuberculous pleural effusions from recent malignant effusions, which tend to have a higher pleural fluid pH, particularly if used in conjunction with other pleural fluid values, cell counts, and other clinical parameters. In patients with malignant pleural effusions, a pH of less than 7.3 is usually seen in those effusions present for several months and is associated with a lower glucose level and a higher white cell count and lactic dehydrogenase level. Results of cytologic study of the pleural fluid and pleural biopsy are often positive, there is poor response to sclerosing agents, and the prognosis is poor. A rheumatoid pleural effusion most often has a pleural fluid pH below 7.3. A pleural fluid pH below 6 is seen almost exclusively in esophageal rupture but rarely with empyemas, whereas a pleural fluid pH below 7 occurs in esophageal rupture, empyema, and rheumatoid pleural effusions. In pleural effusions secondary to congestive heart failure, the pH is almost always greater than 7.4 unless systemic acidemia coexists, in which case the pleural fluid pH is within 0.04 units of the simultaneous arterial pH. The major value of pleural fluid pH is to determine the need for chest tube drainage in parapneumonic effusions and to determine the response to sclerosing agents in patients with malignant pleural effusions. As with all diagnostic tests, the results should be interpreted in the context of other diagnostic tests of the pleural fluid and clinical aspects before diagnostic or therapeutic decisions are made.     

Primary treatment of malignant pleural effusions: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery poudrage versus tube thoracostomy

The objective of this study is to show that primary treatment of malignant pleural effusions secondary to ovarian carcinoma with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)-assisted talc poudrage (VATS-ATP) results in shorter hospital stays and reduced time with a chest tube than primary treatment with a chest tube and chemical pleurodesis. We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with a symptomatic pleural effusion secondary to primary ovarian carcinoma receiving intervention from January 1996 to December 2000. Patients either received tube thoracostomy with pleurodesis (n = 22) or VATS-ATP (n = 12). Of the patients treated with tube thoracostomy 18 per cent (4/21) died in the hospital before pleurodesis, 77 per cent (14/19) had successful pleurodesis, and 22 per cent (4/18) failed pleurodesis requiring VATS-ATP. In the group treated primarily with tube thoracostomy the chest tube was in place 8.36 +/- 2.61 days with a hospital stay of 12.64 +/- 5.80 days after the procedure. In the group treated with VATS-ATP there was 100 per cent successful pleurodesis. There were no mortalities. There was one prolonged intubation of 3 days and one incomplete lung reexpansion. The chest tube was in place for 4.58 +/- 1.78 days and a hospital stay of 7.50 +/- 4.12 days postprocedure. Groups treated by tube thoracostomy and VATS were statistically different; P < 0.001 for days with a chest tube and P = 0.011 for hospital days. We conclude that both tube thoracostomy with chemical pleurodesis and VATS-ATP provide adequate treatment of ovarian carcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusions. VATS-ATP provides a shorter duration of chest tube placement and postprocedure hospital stay.     

The role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of parapneumonic empyema after the failure of fibrinolytics

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of patients treated with intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytics fail to respond and therefore need more invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: During the period 1994-99, we treated 20 consecutive patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPE) and pleural empyema (PE) that did not resolve with urokinase instillation given through the chest tube in a dose of 100,000 IU diluted in 100 ml of normal saline/daily for 3-5 days. The patients' ages ranged from 21 to 68 years (median, 46); 14 were male and six female. All patients had pleural fluid pH <7.1, LACTATE DEHYDRAGENASE (LDH) >1000, glucose <40 mg/dl and were submitted to VATS. RESULTS: Complete drainage was observed in 17 patients (85%), in the other three (15%), the procedure had to be converted to open thoracotomy due to a thickened visceral pleural peel. The mean operative time was 80.3 min (range, 55-140), and the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 days (range, 4-19). CONCLUSION: We found that VATS is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated surgical procedure in CPE and PE patients who have failed to resolve with initial treatment with fibrinolytics.     

Current treatment of pediatric empyema

Pneumonia with complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema is increasing in incidence and continues to be a source of morbidity in children seen in our institution. Current diagnostic modalities include chest radiographs and CT scanning with ultrasound being helpful in some situations. Exact management of empyema remains controversial. Although open thoracotomy drainage is well accepted in children, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) drainage has become more prevalent in the current era. Over the last 4 years, we have treated 58 children with intrapleural placement of pigtail catheters and administration fibrinolytics consisting of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Successful drainage and resolution of 54 of the 58 effusions was achieved with percutaneous methods alone. There was no mortality or 30-day recurrence. Mean hospital stay was 9.1 days (range 5 to 21) and mean chest catheter removal was 6 days post placement (range 1.5 to 20). Of the four patients that failed percutaneous tube therapy, 3 underwent video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and one had open thoracotomy with decortication. Based on our experience, tPA administered through a small bore chest tube for drainage of complicated parapneumonic effusions has become our standard practice. We reserve VATS for treatment failures and open thoracotomy and decortication for patients with VATS failure.     

Simultaneous bilateral decortications via video-assisted thoracic surgery for bilateral empyema

IntroductionBilateral empyema is a rare and life-threatening condition that is difficult to treat. We herein report a case of bilateral empyema that was treated with simultaneous bilateral decortications via video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).Presentation of caseA 38-year-old female complained of chest pain, dyspnea, and high grade fever lasting two weeks. Computed tomography revealed bilateral notching pleural effusion and pneumonia with atelectasis. Bilateral thoracic drainage was performed. From the right chest, white pus was drained, and Streptococcus anginosus was identified. The left drainage fluid was serous, and no bacteria were identified. We diagnosed the patient with right empyema and left para-pneumonic effusion consequent to pneumonia. Because conservative therapies could not resolve the inflammatory findings, simultaneous bilateral VATS decortications were performed. Both thoracic cavities had loculated pleural effusion. In contrast to the preoperative findings, white pus was found in not only the right, but also the left thoracic cavity. She had an uncomplicated postoperative course and recovered.DiscussionBilateral empyema that has developed to the fibrinopleural phase is difficult to treat with drains alone. Bilateral VATS decortications helped to make a definitive diagnosis and treat both sides simultaneously.ConclusionSimultaneous bilateral VATS decortications should be considered as a feasible and effective procedure for bilateral empyema that is refractory to medical treatment.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of pleural empyema

BACKGROUND: The use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of pleural empyema has been proposed since the early 1990s, but among surgeons, its use varies considerably, and the results are discordant. This report aims to provide a retrospective assessment of the authors' experience and the literature on VATS in an effort to ascertain rational criteria for the use of this technique. METHODS: Over a period of 12 years, a total of 120 cases of pleural empyema were recorded. The patients were assessed with chest x-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound, and thoracentesis. On the basis of clearly defined clinical and radiographic parameters, 38 patients underwent VATS immediately, whereas the remaining 82 were treated initially by means of tube thoracostomy. The latter was found to be sufficient for only 10 patients. Consequently, for the remaining 72 patients, it was decided to proceed also with VATS. RESULTS: The procedure was performed completely by VATS in 101 patients (91.8%), whereas in 9 patients (8.2%) it was necessary to convert to thoracotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful for 98 of the 110 patients (89%), whereas the remaining 12 patients experienced complications, including one case of persistent empyema (0.9%) treated by thoracotomy. The mean chest tube duration was 6 days (range, 3-25 days). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.1 days (range, 5-17 days). Of the 80 patients completing a 6-month follow-up evaluation, the results were considered good for 72, moderately good for 8, and less than satisfactory for 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the authors consider VATS to be the technique of first choice for the treatment of pleural empyema when the disease is advanced or tube thoracostomy fails. It provides excellent results with a low level of invasiveness and considerably reduces the need for thoracotomy. These results can be achieved with good videothoracoscopic experience and the use of a very precise technique.     

Evolution of practice in the management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children

Aim

To assess the evolution in management of children with parapneumonic effusion and empyema in a tertiary referral centre.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for children with stage II empyema

Children with stage II empyema often fail traditional medical management, frequently succumbing to the effective albeit morbid clutches of thoracotomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been recently introduced as a viable and potentially less morbid alternative to open thoracotomy. We review our VATS experience in children with empyema, assessing surgical outcome. Between August 1996 and March 1999, 13 patients at our institution with stage II empyema that did not respond to conventional medical management underwent a modified VATS with decortication. Data from retrospective chart review reflects intraoperative findings and postoperative course, including average time to defervescence, removal of thoracostomy tube, and hospital discharge. VATS was completed in all 13 patients. All intraoperative cultures of pleural fluid and fibrinopurulent debris obtained at VATS showed no growth. The average time to defervescence was 2.2 days (range, 0-4 days) and to removal of thoracostomy tube 3.6 days (range, 2-5 days). Average total chest tube days in patients with pre-VATS thoracostomy (n = 6) was 14.5 days (range, 8-37 days) versus 3.1 days (range, 2-5 days) in patients (n = 7) who underwent primary VATS (t test, p < 0.05). The average time to surgical discharge after VATS was 5.8 days (range, 3 to 19 days). All patients were well on follow-up clinic visits without delayed complications. VATS can be performed safely and effectively in children with stage II empyema, thus avoiding the morbidity of open thoracotomy and decortication. Importantly, early application of VATS significantly relieves patients of unnecessary days of thoracostomy drainage.     

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.     

Thoracoscopic decortication: first-line therapy for pediatric empyema

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a popular and well-refined procedure. It has several advantages over open thoracotomy in terms of invasiveness and cosmetics. The aim of this study is to consider if VATS can serve as primary management for pediatric empyema. Between October 2000 and December 2002, 13 children with empyema receiving VATS were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 5 had tube thoracostomy before VATS intervention (group T), and 8 had VATS as the initial treatment (group V). Their mean (+/- SD) age of groups V and T were 5.75 +/- 4.43 and 4.0 +/- 1.58 years, respectively. The children of group V had a shorter length of hospital stay (group V 10.7 +/- 3.54 days; group T 28.2 +/- 8.32 days), a shorter period of chest tube drainage (group V 5 +/- 1.87 days; group T 25 +/- 11.08 days), less transfusion (group V 0.4 +/- 0.17 units; group T 0.9 +/- 0.27 units) and less radiation exposure (group V 10.3 +/- 3.49; group T 23.4 +/- 11.64). No mortality was noted in the entire series. We conclude that primary VATS is a safe, effective and definitive method which can serve as first-line therapy for children with empyema.     

Ready for the frontline: is early thoracoscopic decortication the new standard of care for advanced pneumonia with empyema?

Video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication (VATD) has been established as an effective and potentially less morbid alternative to open thoracotomy for the management of empyema. However, the timing and role of VATD for advanced pneumonia with empyema is still controversial. In assessing surgical outcome, the authors reviewed their VATD experience in children with empyema or empyema with necrotizing pneumonia. The charts of 42 children who underwent VATD at our institution between July 2001 and July 2005 were retrospectively reviewed for surgical outcome. For purposes of analysis, patients were cohorted into four classes with increasing severity of pneumonia: 1 (-) intraoperative pleural fluid cultures, (-) necrotizing pneumonia, 18 (43%); 2 (+) pleural fluid cultures, (-) necrotizing pneumonia, 10 (24%); 3 (-) pleural fluid cultures, (+) necrotizing pneumonia, 6 (14%); 4 (+) pleural fluid cultures, (+) necrotizing pneumonia, 8 (19%). A P value of < 0.05 via Student's t test or Fischer's exact analysis was considered an indicator of significant difference in the comparison of group outcomes. VATD was successfully completed in all 42 patients with no mortality and without significant morbidity (82% had less than 20 cc blood loss). There was found to be no significant difference (p = NS) in time to surgical discharge (removal of chest tube) among all groups. Hospital length of stay postsurgery was found to be significantly increased between 1 and 4 (6 days vs 9 days; P = 0.038). 14/14 (100%) of children with necrotizing pneumonia were found to have evidence of lung parenchymal preservation with improved aeration on follow-up CT scan and/or chest x-rays. The authors conclude that early VATD in children with advanced pneumonia with empyema is indicated to avoid unnecessarily lengthy hospitalization and prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, early VATD can be safely performed in various stages of advanced pneumonia with empyema, promoting lung salvage, and accelerating clinical recovery.     

Primary thoracoscopic treatment of empyema in children

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment of pediatric empyema remains controversial. The objective of this study is to compare the use of conventional management versus primary thoracoscopic drainage and decortication in children with empyema. METHODS: Conventional management has consisted of chest drain insertion under general anesthesia plus intravenous antibiotics. Thoracoscopic drainage and decortication has consisted of primary thoracoscopic drainage and decortication plus antibiotics. The clinical course of 54 patients treated conventionally between 1989 and 1997 was compared with that of 21 patients treated by means of thoracoscopic drainage and decortication between September 2000 and September 2001. RESULTS: Results of the study demonstrated that patients in the drainage-decortication group had fewer invasive interventions per patient than those in the conventional management group (1.0 vs 1.26). Patients undergoing thoracoscopic drainage and decortication also had significantly shorter durations of intravenous antibiotic therapy (7.6 +/- 1.2 vs 18.2 +/- 7.5 days), chest tube drainage (4.0 +/- 0.5 vs 10.2 +/- 6.1 days), and hospital stays (7.4 +/- 0.8 vs 15.4 +/- 7.4). Moreover, there were no open thoracotomies and decortications in the thoracoscopic drainage and decortication group, whereas in the conventional management group 39% (21/54) of patients underwent an open procedure. CONCLUSION: Although the 2 groups were not prospectively randomized and they were treated in different time periods, the results of this study support the use of thoracoscopic surgery as the primary therapeutic modality in children presenting with pleural empyema. This strategy appears to offer significant benefits over conventional treatment in terms of duration of treatment and the need for more invasive surgery.     

Management of pleural injuries during retroperitoneal surgical procedures

Purpose The necessity of a postoperative chest tube for the treatment of pneumothorax after a radical nephrectomy is controversial. Materials and methods A five-year retrospective study was performed on 91 patients, having undergone a radical nephrectomy. We examined the existence and length of a pleural rent, presence of a postoperative thoracostomy tube, postoperative pneumothorax, postoperative pneumonia, postoperative atelectasis, pain scores, hemoglobin saturation, and length of hospital stay with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Incidence of a pleural rent occurred in 29 (36%) of open radical nephrectomy cases; 4 of the 29 cases had a postoperative thoracostomy tube. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin saturation levels between cases that had no pleural rent, a pleural rent without a thoracostomy tube, and a pleural rent with a postoperative thoracostomy tube. A pleural rent without a postoperative chest tube had significantly lower rates of pain score, atelectasis, pneumonia, pleural effusion, and length of hospital stay compared to individuals with a postoperative chest tube. Patients with a chest tube had a significantly higher incidence of pain, atelectasis, pneumonia, effusion, and length of hospital stay. Conclusion Iatrogenic pleural rents treated without a postoperative chest tube show a significant decrease in postoperative complications of pneumonia and atelectasis, pain score and length of hospital stay. These patients show no significant increases in postoperative complications; therefore, it appears that postoperative chest tube placement after a pleural injury occurs is of no advantage.     

Management of postpneumonic empyemas in children

Objectives: Despite continued improvement in medical therapy, pediatric empyema remains a challenging problem for the surgeon. Multiple treatment options are available; however, the optimal therapeutic management has not been elucidated. The aim of this study is to assess different treatment options in the management of postpneumonic pediatric empyemas. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of pediatric patients admitted to Dicle University School of Medicine Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department between 1990 and 2002, with the diagnosis of empyema. Data tabulated included patient demographics, presentation, treatment and outcome. Results: There were 515 children (289 boys and 226 girls) with a mean age of 4.7 ranging from 18 days to 15 years. Empyema was secondary to pneumonia in all children. The most common radiologic finding was pleural effusion in 285 patients (55.32%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently encountered organism and found in 105 patients (20.38%). Pleural fluid cultures were negative in 195 patients (37.86%). In addition to antibiotic therapy, initial treatment included serial thoracenthesis (n=29), chest tube drainage alone (n=214), chest tube drainage with intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (n=72), chest tube drainage with primary operation (n=191), and primary operation without chest tube drainage (n=9). Overall response rate with fibrinolytic treatment (complete and partial response) was obtained in 58 patients. In addition to decortication pulmonary resections were performed in 12 patients. Overall mortality rate was 1.55%. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative morbidity included wound infection in 21, delayed expansion in 8, and atelectasis in 35 patients. Conclusions: Multiple therapeutic options are available for the management of pediatric empyema. Depending on stages, every option has a role in the treatment of postpneumonic pediatric empyema. In the absence of bronchopleural fistula, intrapleural fibrinolytic treatment should be tried in all patients with multiloculations in stage II empyema. In the absence of pneumonia, decortication for empyema is a safe approach with low mortality and morbidity rates.     

Streptococcus milleri infections of the pleural space: operative management predominates

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with thoracic empyema ranges from tube thoracostomy drainage, with or without fibrinolytics, to operative intervention, with the optimal intervention remaining uncertain. Streptococcus milleri, typically a benign bacterium colonizing the oropharynx, has recently been reported as a potential pathogen in pneumonia and pleural space disease. Our initial experience indicated this infection, when in the pleural space, was particularly tenacious and often required major operative intervention to eradicate. Therefore, we hypothesized that patients with S milleri pleural space infections often require operative intervention as definitive treatment. METHODS: We reviewed all patients from June 17, 1999 to April 15, 2005 with S milleri infections at our level I academic trauma/acute care surgery department at a safety-net hospital. S milleri infections were diagnosed by thoracentesis, bronchoalveolar lavage, tube thoracostomy fluid, or intraoperative culture. RESULTS: Over the 70-month period evaluated, of 697 patients with S milleri infections, 39 patients had S milleri infections of the pleural space; 26 (67%) patients underwent operative intervention. The majority (72%) were men with a mean age of 46 (range 22 to 63); the underlying etiology in those patients requiring operation was pneumonia (26 patients; 67%), trauma (9 patients; 23%), postoperative infection (2 patients), foreign body ingestion (1 patient), and malignancy (1 patient). The vast majority of patients in the operative group were treated preoperatively with tube thoracostomy (88%) and antibiotics (96%). The average duration of chest tube drainage prior to operation was 4.4 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6 to 6.2) and antibiotic treatment was 6.0 days (95% CI 3.8 to 8.2). Thirteen patients (50%) underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and 13 patients required thoracotomy. VATS was performed more often when operative intervention occurred early (average hospital day 6.2) compared to initial thoracotomy or conversion from VATS to thoracotomy (average hospital day 9.8). Hospital length of stay was less in the operative group (average 24 days; 95% CI 17 to 31) than in the nonoperative group (34 days; 95% CI 19 to 49), discharge to home was greater in the operative group (77% vs. 16%), and mortality was less in operative group (0% vs. 23%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite attempts at nonoperative management, the majority of patients with a S milleri pleural space infection require operative intervention for definitive therapy. Patients diagnosed with S milleri empyema should be considered for early operative intervention due to the unrelenting nature of their infection. Operative treatment is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay, increased discharge to home, and decreased mortality.     

Consensus document on community-acquired pneumonia in children. SENP-SEPAR-SEIP

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a prevalent disease among children and is frequently associated with both diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainties. Consensus has been reached between SEPAR, SENP and SEIP, and their conclusions are as follows:Etiology depends mainly on age and other factors and no single analytical marker offers absolute diagnostic reliability.In the event of clinical suspicion of pneumonia in a healthy child, chest X-ray is not necessary. Chest ultrasound is increasingly implemented as a follow-up method, and even as a diagnostic method.The empirical antibiotic treatment of choice In typical forms of the disease is oral amoxicillin at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 7 days, while in atypical presentations in children older than 5 years, macrolides should be selected. In severe typical forms, the combination of 3rd generation cephalosporins and cloxacillin (or clindamycin or vancomycin) administered intravenously is recommended.If pleural drainage is required, ultrasound-guided insertion of a small catheter is recommended. Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytics (urokinase) reduces hospital stay compared to simple pleural drainage.In parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE), antibiotic treatment combined with pleural drainage and fibrinolytics is associated with a similar hospital stay and complication rate as antibiotic treatment plus video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS).Systematic pneumococcal conjugate vaccination is recommended in children under 5 years of age, as it reduces the incidence of CAP and hospitalization for this disease.     

Outpatient management of malignant pleural effusion by a chronic indwelling pleural catheter

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that a chronic indwelling pleural catheter (PC) safely and effectively relieved dyspnea, maintained quality of life, and reduced hospitalization in patients with malignant pleural effusions. Outpatient management of malignant pleural effusion with a PC may reduce length of stay and early (7-day) charges compared with inpatient management with chest tube and sclerosis. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive PC patients (n = 100; 60 outpatient, 40 inpatient) were treated from July 1, 1994 to September 2, 1998 and compared with 68 consecutive inpatients treated with chest tube and sclerosis between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1997. Hospital charges were obtained from date of insertion (day 0) through day 7. RESULTS: Demographics were similar in both groups. Pretreatment cytology was positive in 126 of 168 patients (75%), negative in 21 (12.5%), and unknown in 21 (12.5%). Primary histology included lung (n = 61, 36%), breast (n = 39, 23%), lymphoma (n = 12, 7%), or other (n = 56, 34%). Median survival was 3.4 months and did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Overall median length of stay was 7.0 days for inpatient chest tube and inpatient PC versus 0.0 days for outpatient Pleurx. No mortality occurred related to the PC. Eighty-one percent (81/100) of PC patients had no complications. One or more complications occurred in 19 patients (19%). Patients treated with outpatient PC (n = 60) had early (7-day) mean charges of $3,391 +/- $1,753 compared with inpatient PC (n = 40, $11,188 +/- $7,964) or inpatient chest tube (n = 68, $7,830 +/- $4,497, SD) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient PC may be used effectively and safely to treat malignant pleural effusions. Hospitalization is not required in selected patients. Early (7-day) charges for malignant pleural effusion are reduced in outpatient PC patients compared with inpatient PC patients or chest tube plus sclerosis patients.     

The surgical treatment of stage III empyema: the effect on lung function

AIM:The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of stage III empyema. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, 30 patients underwent surgery for treatment of diagnosed stage III empyema preoperatively. Patients were referred for spirometry to evaluate lung function postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty nine patients underwent primary thoracotomy because of an extended stage III empyema, 1 patient video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Mean age was 62 years. Mean period from onset of symptoms until hospital admission was 29 days and mean time interval between admission and surgery was 11 days. Intraoperative complication happened in one patient (3%), in whom a phrenic nerve lesion was diagnosed. Overall mortality rate was 3%. In 17 patients postoperative spirometry was performed, showing normal vital capacity in 59% of the patients. CONCLUSION: There was no reluctance in performing primary thoracotomy in our population with a stage III empyema. Decortication by means of thoracotomy restored the complete expansion of the lung; the authors claim that vital capacity returned to normal values, as it was shown by the spirometry results postoperatively. Early referral to the respiratory department in case of a non-responding pneumonia and early surgical consultation in case of a parapneumonic effusion, will prevent progression to an extensive organized stage III empyema requiring decortication by thoracotomy.