VATS: first step in the parapneumonic empyema*

Pneumonia is a common cause of pediatric hospitalization and almost 50% of children hospitalized for pneumonia develops meta pneumonic pleural effusion, most of which resolve spontaneously (1). The meta pneumonic effusion remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population and is a complication on the rise in both the U.S. (2) and Europe (3-6). There is no uniformity of treatment of the meta pneumonic effusion in its early stages and are still questioning some aspects of proper management, remains uncertain and not always shared the operative timing (7). The treatment options are represented, in combination with antibiotic therapy, the thoracentesis (8), the positioning of one or more pleural drainage (9), fibrinolytic therapy (10), the toilet of the pleural cavity by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (11) or "open" with thoracotomy (12) or traditional mini thoracotomy. We report our experience concerning the processing of meta pneumonic effusion, suggesting how the video thoracoscopy may be the treatment of choice in the early stages of the disease.