Analysis of lung function test in patients with pleural empyema treated with thoracotomy and decortication

The fibrinopurulent phase of pleural empyema has very often been treated with thoracotomy and decortications.

We analyzed the lung function of 19 surgically treated patients in the last 3 years. The lung function was followed up at least 6 months after surgery.

Before surgery the expected mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 4650 ml, the expected mean forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was 3450 ml, the realized mean FVC was 2850 ml, and the realized mean FEV1 was 1750 ml. The mean FVC 3 months after surgery was 3430 ml, and the mean FEV1 was 1700 ml. The mean FVC 6 months after surgery was 3850 ml, and the mean FEV1 was 2950 ml.

Early detection and treatment is essential in the treatment of empyema, where the use of thoracic drainage with or without streptokinase or the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) decortication were methods of choice in treatment. Later, thoracotomy with decortication was the only treatment solution of the fibrinopurulent phase of empyema, where a trapped lung was frequently detected.

Thoracotomy with decortication is a useful method of treatment of the fibrinopurulent phase of empyema, which solved the problem and also significantly improved lung function, especially at the follow-up after 6 months.