Role of decortication in cases of empyema thoracis in childhood - a case series

ABSTRACT

The aim was to analyze role of decortication in managing progressive empyema thoracis in children at our hospitals. The study included cases of empyema thoracis admitted at CH and ICH Lahore from May 1999 to November 2000. Total No. of patients included was fifty eight. There were 36 males and 22 females with a mean age of 4 years. Common presentation was fever, chest pain and cough. Mean duration of symptoms was 3 weeks Out of 58 patients 24 underwent decortication because fever and drainage of pus were not settling down. All the patients in decortication group were cured .34 patients responded well to medical treatment and tube thoracostomy commonest cause of empyema was pneumonia and tuberculosis. If the empyema is not setting down, early surgical intervention e.g. decortication should be instituted. Early referral of all empyema patients to thoracic units for definitive therapy is strongly recommended