Thoracotomy versus Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy in Pediatric Empyema
10.5090/kjtcs.2019.52.3.125
- Author:
Leily MOHAJERZADEH
1
;
Saran LOTFOLLAHZADEH
;
Armin VOSOUGHI
;
Iman HARIRFOROOSH
;
Sina PARSAY
;
Hesam AMIRIFAR
;
Nazanin FARAHBAKHSH
;
Khashayar ATQIAEE
Author Information
1. Pediatric Surgery Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. khashayaratqiaee@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Empyema;
Video-assisted thoracic surgery;
Thoracotomy
- MeSH:
Empyema;
Female;
Humans;
Length of Stay;
Male;
Postoperative Complications;
Prospective Studies;
Surgical Wound Infection;
Thoracic Surgery;
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted;
Thoracoscopy;
Thoracotomy
- From:The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
2019;52(3):125-130
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To compare the outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in comparison to open thoracic surgery in pediatric patients suffering from empyema. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 80 patients referred to the Department of Pediatric Surgery between 2015 and 2018. The patients were randomly divided into thoracotomy and VATS groups (groups I and II, respectively). Forty patients were in the thoracotomy group (16 males [40%], 24 females [60%]; average age, 5.77±4.08 years) and 40 patients were in the VATS group (18 males [45%], 22 females [55%]; average age, 6.27±3.67 years). There were no significant differences in age (p=0.61) or sex (p=0.26). Routine preliminary workups for all patients were ordered, and the patients were followed up for 90 days at regular intervals. RESULTS: The average length of hospital stay (16.28±7.83 days vs. 15.83±9.44 days, p=0.04) and the duration of treatment needed for pain relief (10 days vs. 5 days, p=0.004) were longer in the thoracotomy group than in the VATS group. Thoracotomy patients had surgical wound infections in 27.3% of cases, whereas no cases of infection were reported in the VATS group (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that VATS was not only less invasive than thoracotomy, but also showed promising results, such as an earlier discharge from the hospital and fewer postoperative complications.
