pubmed:abstractText |
Early decortication is advocated for the disorganized pleural space. This series reviews 85 patients operated on for haemothorax and empyema as a result of penetrating chest trauma (61 cases), blunt chest trauma (2), post-pneumonic empyema (15), tuberculous empyema (4) and chronic pneumothorax (2). The aetiology, surgical technique and results are discussed. In 83% of cases there was complete clinical recovery and radiological re-expansion of the affected lung.
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