Empyema thoracis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To review the management of Empyema Thoracis in the surgical department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Thirteen cases with Empyema thoraces treated in the surgical department of the hospital with different modalities of treatment was taken for study and analyzed for morbidity, mortality, and hospital stay. RESULTS: there was a single mortality in the thoracotomy group. Video assisted thoracic surgery or VATS debridement or deloculation was successful in the eight of the patients with shorter stay in the hospital. One patient who refused surgery was treated with streptokinase with good result. CONCLUSION: Streptokinase may be effective in the treatment of empyemas. Video assisted thoracic surgery or VATS has definite advantage over traditional surgery in terms decreased morbidity, mortality, earlier hospital discharge and cosmesis in the treatment of empyema.