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Effect of decortication and pleurectomy in chronic empyema patients

Reza Bagheri1, Seyed Ziaollah Haghi2, Marziyeh Nouri Dalouee2

  • 1Cardiothoracic Surgery & Transplant Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran bagherir@mums.ac.ir.

Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals
|January 21, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Decortication and pleurectomy surgery significantly improves lung function and chest wall dimensions in patients suffering from chronic empyema. This surgical intervention offers substantial benefits for individuals with tuberculosis or other related pleural diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Pulmonology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Chronic empyema leads to restrictive lung fibrosis, impairing pulmonary function and causing chest wall asymmetry.
  • Surgical intervention is evaluated for its efficacy in mitigating these adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of decortication and pleurectomy in improving pulmonary function and chest wall dimensions in patients with chronic empyema.
  • To compare outcomes in patients with tuberculosis-related empyema versus other causes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 50 patients with chronic empyema undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy for decortication and pleurectomy.
  • Pulmonary function tests (spirometry) and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed pre- and post-surgery.
  • Patient data were analyzed for changes in lung function and chest wall diameters.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements were observed in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (62.5% to 77.3%) and forced vital capacity (60.6% to 78.5%) post-surgery (p < 0.001).
  • Chest wall diameters also showed significant improvement (p < 0.001).
  • Outcomes were comparable between patients with tuberculosis-related empyema and those with other causes.

Conclusions:

  • Decortication and pleurectomy via posterolateral thoracotomy are effective in improving pulmonary function and chest wall dimensions in chronic empyema.
  • The surgical benefits extend to patients with both tuberculosis and other etiologies of empyema.
Keywords:
Chronic diseaseDebridementEmpyemaRespiratory function testsThoracic wallpleuraltuberculous

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