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Related Experiment Videos

Recent trends in empyema thoracis

G F Benfield

    British Journal of Diseases of the Chest
    |October 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Empyema thoracis cases have changed due to antibiotic use, often becoming resistant to closed chest drainage. Longer symptom duration before hospital admission increases the need for surgery.

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    Area of Science:

    • Thoracic Surgery
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Pulmonary Medicine

    Background:

    • Empyema thoracis is a serious thoracic infection.
    • Predisposing factors include pneumonia and thoracic/gastroesophageal surgery.
    • Antibiotic use may alter the characteristics of empyema.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the changing nature of empyema thoracis.
    • To identify predisposing factors and causative organisms.
    • To evaluate treatment outcomes and mortality rates.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective study of 123 patients with empyema thoracis (1968-1978).
    • Analysis of pre-hospital antibiotic use and isolated organisms.
    • Comparison of treatment outcomes (antibiotics alone vs. surgery) based on symptom duration.

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    Main Results:

    • Pneumonia was the most common cause; surgery was another significant factor.
    • Organisms were isolated in 63% of patients with pre-hospital antibiotics.
    • 29% resolved with antibiotics/drainage, but 64% required surgery; longer symptom duration correlated with surgical need.

    Conclusions:

    • Widespread antibiotic use has altered empyema characteristics, making them more refractory to closed chest drainage.
    • Delayed presentation (over four weeks) significantly increases the likelihood of requiring thoracotomy.
    • Empyema thoracis has a 9% mortality rate, with 11 deaths directly attributed to the condition in this cohort.