Indicators for surgical intervention in thoracic empyema in children

To determine predictors for surgical intervention of thoracic empyema in children, and its associated morbidity.

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of children with empyema thoracis admitted in the Maternity and Children Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia between January 2007 and January 2012. The data extracted included: socio-demographic data, clinical data, method of treatment, and follow up data. According to the introduced therapeutic methods, a total of 62 patients were divided into 2 groups; patients treated with chest tube (CT) insertion (51 cases), and 11 cases that required thoracotomy (TH); groups were compared to determine predictors for thoracotomy.

Of 62 patients, 37 were females and 25 were males. In terms of age, side of lesion, presence of cough, or dyspnea, both groups were homogenous. Both groups had significant differences for duration of complaint (TH and CT) (13.5±6.5 days versus 10±3.6, p=0.005), presence of fever (90.2% versus 36.4%, p less than 0.001), history of recurrent chest infections (90.9% versus 37.3%, p=0.001), and radiological findings. However, it was not evident that any of these variables influenced treatment decision except absence of fever, which was significantly less in patients treated with thoracotomy.

No specific indicator was found to increase expectancy for surgical intervention as a treatment choice, except the absence of fever, which may reflect the delayed referral and prolonged use of antibiotics and cannot be interpreted truly without caution as an indicator for surgical intervention.