[Decortication of the lung]

During a six year period 18 patients were operated by decortication of the lung. Eight patients had empyema, five were decorticated for postoperative/posttraumatic formation of haematoma. Four patients had restrictive pleuritis and one patient was operated due to insufficient expansion of the lung after operation for emphysematous bullae. After the decortication, one patient developed empyema and one septicemia, but both these patients were treated successfully. The median postoperative stay in hospital was 13 (7-84) days. Decortication should be considered for patients with empyema or pleural haematoma if the pleural effusion persists after more than one week of adequate drainage.