[Therapeutic and microbiologic aspects of pleural empyema]

The pleural empyema is a severe disease which passes with respiratory insufficiency and general toxic symptoms. The early staged surgical treatment combined with total evacuation of the puss from pleural cavity is important for the successful outcome of the disease. We made retrospective study including 82 patients with pleural (61 with acute and 21 with chronic) empyema. We performed the following operative interventions: thoracocentesis with active aspiration--at 43, VATS--20, decortication and pleurectomy--in 16, thoracoplastic with muscle flap--3. Three patients died. The most common causes for the empyema were Gr (+) coccy. At most of the patients combined operative treatment and antibiotic therapy were the most effective.