[Use of immunomodulators and low-frequency ultrasonics for prevention of acute postoperative pleural empyema]

Many methods for the prevention of acute postoperative pyothorax have been suggested, but no tendency towards a reduction of its frequency has been noted in the recent years. A group of 100 patients with various diseases of the lungs (malignant tumors, abscesses, bronchiectases) was examined. They were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of the risk of development of acute postoperative pyothorax: with increased, moderate, and high risk. The first group consisted of 20 patients who were given small doses of immunomodulators Dibazole and Dekaris in the pre- and postoperative periods. Control of the immunity indices was conducted in the preoperative period and on days 14 and 21 after the operation. Intraoperative treatment of the pleura with low-frequency ultrasound was applied in the second group of 40 patients. Fourty patients of the third group were treated by a complex of both of the above-mentioned preventive methods. The control group was made up of 347 patients with a similar condition but not treated by the special methods of prevention. All of the 447 patients underwent radical operations. Analysis of the results of the study showed that acute postoperative pyothorax developed in 8.65% of patients in the control group in which immunoprophylaxis and intraoperative treatment of the pleura with low-frequency ultrasound were not applied. Acute postoperative pyothorax developed in 1% of cases in the main group.