Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-5-13
pubmed:abstractText
The appropriate management of empyema in children is controversial. Traditional surgical approaches have included thoracotomy and open drainage, decortication, and thoracoplasty. While generally effective, these procedures can be associated with considerable morbidity. We have sought to assess the utility of video-assisted thoracoscopic adhesiolysis and pleural debridement for the treatment of empyema in children. Nine children with postpneumonic empyema unsuccessfully managed with a single attempt at closed tube thoracostomy underwent thoracoscopic drainage during the past 2 years. The empyema was successfully treated with this technique in seven patients with no further interventions being required. Procedures performed early in the fibrinopurulent stage were technically easier. The average time before chest tube removal was 8.5 days. An immunocompromised patient required a subsequent open decortication and a patient with a coagulopathy required two subsequent open procedures for drainage of a recurrent hemothorax. We conclude from this experience that video-assisted thoracoscopic adhesiolysis and pleural debridement can be successfully performed in children. Benefits include good visualization of the entire thoracic cavity for more effective debridement and efficient drainage, and subjectively diminished postoperative pain and associated morbidity.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
1052-3901
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
6 Suppl 1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
S51-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-11-18
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Thoracoscopic management of empyema in children.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article