Empyema in children

Closed chest drainage is very effective in the management of empyema thoracis. Fifty cases of empyema thoracis in children were treated in the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal between 1994 and 2000. The cases were referred from TB Hospital, Chingmeirong, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Porompat and chest and paediatric wards of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. Most of the cases were managed with dosed chest intercostal drainage. The lung expanded well in majority of the cases. Forty cases were aspirated initially in the concerned departments. Only 10 cases of massive empyema were aspirated in this department. Thirty-eight cases were treated with drainage and 4 cases were subjected to repeated aspiration. Eight cases of empyema (tuberculous) were subjected to thoracotomy and decortication. One case had recurrent empyema after decortication. Forty cases were given antituberculosis drugs.