Endoscopic surgery accelerates recovery from empyema
Nummi, A.; Räsänen, J.; Kauppi, J.; Piilonen, A.; Sihvo, E.; Salo, J.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 131(7): 657-662
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 26233983 Document Number: 682449
The incidence of thoracic empyema is increasing. Early treatment of empyema should focus on optimal drainage and antibiotics. If conventional therapy fails, surgical intervention has to be considered and approximately 30% of all patients require surgery. In a three-year period (2011-2013), 182 patients were operated at Helsinki University Hospital due to pleural empyema. Thoracoscopic decortication was performed on 44% of the patients and 56% underwent open surgery. After thoracoscopy, the patients had a shorter hospital stay and fewer reoperations. Thoracoscopic decortication should therefore be the first-line procedure in the surgical treatment of pleural empyema.