Why do two procedures when one will do? Thoracic ultrasound guiding management of complex pleural space infections
Brad W Petkovich1, William C McManigle1, Amit Chopra2
1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
Complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. When managing a potentially infected pleural space, current guidelines support performing diagnostic thoracentesis prior to consideration of chest tube insertion. We present a case demonstrating our clinical approach to the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas, with patient presentation and initial point-of-care thoracic ultrasound assessment guiding consideration of immediate insertion of small-bore (14 F) chest tube.
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