Management of thoracic amebiasis

The thoracic complications of amebiasis frequently necessitate surgical intervention. Experience with 28 patients is presented. Involvement included the pleura in 19 patients, the lungs in 10, and the pericardium in five. In 25%, more than one site was involved. Treatment consisted of measures designed to obliterate the pleural space or widely drain the pericardial sac, as indicated. Concurrent drainage of the associated amebic liver abscess was done in half the cases. The mortality rate was 36%, generally related to the poor general condition of the patients and their delay in seeking hospitalization.