Thoracic empyema in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

A review of 114 thoracic empyema cases attended in the thoracic unit of the Muhimbili Medical Centre from July 1986 to July 1990 is presented. 87.7% of the cases were males. Their ages ranged from 9 to 79 years with a mean of 32 years. Tuberculosis was the major cause accounting for 63.2% of all the cases. 53.4% of the patients underwent either open chest drainage decortication or thoracoplasty. The duration of hospital stay ranged from 2-8 months with a mode around 3.5 months. A 7% mortality was noted.