Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication in treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis empyema. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, 122 cases of tuberculous empyema treated by decortication in Department of Surgery, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 100 males and 22 females, aged(M(IQR)) 29.5(28.0) years (range: 13 to 70 years). According to the surgical approach and drug resistance, patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group A (n=22), and those who underwent thoracotomy decortication were included in group B (n=28). Drug-sensitive patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group C (n=72). There was no statistical difference in the baseline data of the three groups (P>0.05). The operation, early postoperative recovery, and prognosis-related indicators were compared among three groups by Kruskal-Wallis test and χ² test by Mann-Whitney U test and Bonferroni method between groups A and B, groups A and C. Results: The intraoperative blood loss of group A, group B, and group C was 200(475) ml, 300(200) ml, and 225(300) ml, respectively. There was no significant difference in intraoperative hemorrhage (H=2.74, P=0.254) and treatment outcome (χ²=4.76, P=0.575) among the three groups. Compared with group B, the operation time of group A (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 200.0(60.0) minutes, U=171.0, P=0.007) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0 (2.2) months, U=146.5, P=0.032) were longer, and the postoperative drainage duration (9.5(7.8) days vs. 13.0(10.0) days, U=410.0, P=0.044), and the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 14.5(4.8) days, U=462.2, P=0.020) were shorter. There was no significant difference in complications between group A and group B (63.6%(14/22) vs. 71.4%(20/28), χ²=0.34, P=0.558). Compared with group C, the postoperative drainage duration of group A (9.5(7.8) days vs. 7.0(4.0) days, U=543.5, P=0.031), the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 9.0(4.0) days, U=533.0, P=0.031) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0(2.0) months, U=961.5, P=0.001) were longer. The operation time (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 242.5(188.8) minutes, U=670.5, P=0.278), and complications (63.6%(14/22) vs. 40.3%(29/72), χ²=3.70, P=0.054) were not different between group A and group C. Conclusions: For drug-resistant tuberculous empyema, the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication can achieve the same good therapeutic effect as drug-sensitive tuberculous empyema, and it is as safe as thoracotomy. At the same time, it has the advantage of minimally invasive and can accelerate the early postoperative recovery of patients.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Empyema, Tuberculous/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Drainage ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/surgery*

Objective: To examine the feasibility and technical considerations of thorough debridement using uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for tuberculous empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 38 patients who underwent comprehensive uniportal thoracoscopy debridement for empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, from March 2019 to August 2021. There were 23 males and 15 females, aged (M(IQR)) 30 (25) years (range: 18 to 78 years). The patients were cleared of chest wall tuberculosis under general anesthesia and underwent an incision through the intercostal sinus, followed by the whole fiberboard decortication method. Chest tube drainage was used for pleural cavity disease and negative pressure drainage for chest wall tuberculosis with SB tube, and without muscle flap filling and pressure bandaging. If there was no air leakage, the chest tube was removed first, followed by the removal of the SB tube after 2 to 7 days if there was no obvious residual cavity on the CT scan. The patients were followed up in outpatient clinics and by telephone until October 2022. Results: The operation time was 2.0 (1.5) h (range: 1 to 5 h), and blood loss during the operation was 100 (175) ml (range: 100 to 1 200 ml). The most common postoperative complication was prolonged air leak, with an incidence rate of 81.6% (31/38). The postoperative drainage time of the chest tube was 14 (12) days (range: 2 to 31 days) and the postoperative drainage time of the SB tube was 21 (14) days (range: 4 to 40 days). The follow-up time was 25 (11) months (range: 13 to 42 months). All patients had primary healing of their incisions and there was no tuberculosis recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Uniportal thoracoscopic thorough debridement combined with postoperative standardized antituberculosis treatment is safe and feasible for the treatment of tuberculous empyema with chest wall tuberculosis, which could achieve a good long-term recovery effect.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Abscess/complications* ; Empyema, Pleural/etiology* ; Empyema, Tuberculous/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Debridement/adverse effects* ; China ; Chest Tubes/adverse effects* ; Tuberculosis/complications* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Drainage

Objective: To examine the safety and feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) decortication in patients presenting with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods: From August 2017 to July 2020, 158 patients of stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema underwent uniportal VATS decortication with partial rib resection and customized periosteal stripper in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. There were 127 males and 31 females, aged (M(IQR)) 32(28) years (range:14 to 78 years). Follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic or via social communication applications, at monthly thereafter. If there was no air leak and chest tube drainage was less than 50 ml/day, a chest CT was performed. If the lung was fully re-expanded, chest tubes were removed. All patients received a follow-up chest CT 3 to 6 months following their initial operations which was compared to their preoperative imaging. Results: There was one conversion to open thoracotomy. The operative time was 2.75 (2.50) hours (range: 1.5 to 7.0 hours), and median blood loss was 100 (500) ml (range: 50 to 2 000 ml). There were no perioperative mortalities. There were no major complications except 1 case of redo-VATS for hemostasis due to excessive drainage and 1 case of incision infection, The incidence of prolonged air leaks (>5 days) was 80.3%(126/157). The postoperative hospital stay was 5.00 (2.25) days (range: 2 to 15 days). All patients were discharged with 2 chest tubes, and the median duration drainage was 21.00 (22.50) days (range: 3 to 77 days). Follow-up was completed in all patients over a duration of 20 (14) months (range: 12 to 44 months). At follow-up, 149 patients(94.9%) recovered to grade Ⅰ level, 7 patients to grade Ⅱ level, and 1 patient to grade Ⅲ level. Conclusion: Uniportal VATS decortication involving partial rib resection and a customized periosteal stripper is safe and effective for patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema.
Aged ; China ; Empyema, Tuberculous/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy

No abstract available.
Empyema, Tuberculous* ; Superficial Back Muscles*

OBJECTIVETo study the experiences and operative procedure choice for surgical management of chronic tuberculous empyema.

METHODSTotally 461 patients of chronic tuberculous empyema were treated surgically in Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital between January 2006 and December 2011. There were 317 male and 144 female patients, aging from 6 to 79 years with a mean age of 32 years. Preoperative duration lasted from 3 months to 50 years, including 347 cases within 1 year, 61 cases 1 to 2 years, and 53 cases above 2 years. Chest tube drainage or pleuracentesis was performed in 395 patients, decortication in 287 patients, thoracoplasty in 13 patients, pleuropneumonectomy and resection of remaining lung in 11 patients, complex operation in 150 patients.

RESULTSThere was no death perioperatively. Four hundred and forty-five patients were cured at once, 6 patients were cured by stages. One patient with empyema and bronchial fistula relapsed bronchial fistula after pulmonary lobectomy and pleural decortication, whom was cured by the combination operation which including fistula repair, muscle flap tamponing and local thoracoplasty according to the closed drainage of thoracic cavity after 6 months. Three cases were suffered incision delayed healing and were cured by dressing change. Five cases were suffered abscess of chest wall within 3 months and were cured by local thoracoplasty. One patient died due to respiratory failure in one year which resulted in tuberculosis spreading because of bronchial fistula after pleuropneumonectomy.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical management of chronic tuberculous empyema still have irreplaceable roles. Selecting appropriate operations according to different cases will achieve good results.

Abscess ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bronchial Fistula ; Chest Tubes ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Drainage ; Empyema, Tuberculous ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Thoracic Wall ; Thoracoplasty ; Young Adult

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is a relatively rare type of lymphoma that occurs in patients who have long histories of tuberculous pleuritis or induced pneumothorax. It is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of mainly the B-cell phenotype and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. A majority of these cases have been reported in Japan, although some cases have occurred in Western countries. Here, we describe a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma in a patient with a 30-year history of chronic tuberculous empyema. The patient underwent decortication under the impression of chronic empyema with fistula. The histopathologic diagnosis was a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma associated chronic inflammation.
B-Lymphocytes ; Diagnosis ; Empyema ; Empyema, Tuberculous* ; Fistula ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Japan ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Phenotype ; Pleurisy ; Pneumothorax

Empyema necessitatis refers to empyema that extends into the extrapleural space through a defect in the pleural surface. Tuberculous empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of tuberculosis. We experienced a 21-month-old boy with tuberculous empyema necessitatis with osteomyelitis in the right 7th rib. He presented with a mass on the right lateral chest wall, which was soft and nontender, enlarging for one month. He also had mild fever. The plain radiograph of his chest revealed soft tissue swelling and calcified lymph node on the left axilla, and his PPD skin test was positive. CT scan of the chest showed empyema necessitatis at the right lower chest and upper abdominal walls with osteomyelitis of the right 7th rib. He did not have concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis. Surgery was performed for diagnosis and treatment. In histopathologic findings, chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis was shown and was positive for acid fast bacilli stain. In addition, M. tuberculosis complex was found as etiology by polymerase chain reaction. The patient has been treated with anti-tuberculous medication without any specific complication.
Axilla ; Empyema ; Empyema, Tuberculous ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Necrosis ; Osteomyelitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribs ; Skin Tests ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

A 50 year old male patient was admitted due to fever and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain. He had a history of previous treatment for pulmonary TB and splenectomy due to aplastic anemia. A large peritoneal abscess with connection to a chronic left side tuberculous empyema thoracis was diagnosed on admission. Chest CT also revealed a soft tissue lesion on the left anterior chest wall. Staged drainage of the peritoneal lesion followed by left side pleuropneumonectomy with chest wall resection was performed. The pathologic studies showed a high grade sarcoma of the chest wall.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Empyema, Tuberculous ; Fever ; Humans ; Male ; Sarcoma ; Splenectomy ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The curative treatment of choice for empyema is decortication of the pleura. The risks of this treatment however are increased for the patient with reduced pulmonary function, complicated calcification or septic shock. In the past, open window thoracostomy was a final stage treatment for chronic empyema. Relatively safe treatment of empyema could be achieved in difficult cases with a closure of the open window after open drainage and use of a myocutaneous flap (one stage or staged). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study of the cause, progression and final outcome of empyema patients who received open window thoracostomy was performed. 21 patients were followed from 1995 to 2004 in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the College of Medicine, Pusan National University. RESULT: The average age of the patients was 57.5+/-15.5 years (range 25~78 years), of whom 16 (76.2%) were men and five (23.8%) were women. Pulmonary function test results showed an average FEV1 of 1.58+/-0.49 L. The type of empyema was tuberculous empyema in 13 cases (61.9%), aspergillosis in three cases (14.3%), parapneumonic empyema in three cases (14.3%) and post-resectional empyema in two cases (10%). Bronchopulmonary fistula was seen in 14 cases. Eight cases were complicated by severe calcification of the pleura. For the four cases of bronchopulmonary fistula, the patients' serratus anterior muscle was covered in their first operation. The average number of ribs resected was 4+/-1. Closure of the open window thoracostomy was performed in 12 cases. The average time to closure after open drainage was 10.22+/-3.11 months and the average defect of the empyemal cavity before the final operation was 330+/-110 cc. Among the 12 cases, there were two cases of spontaneous closure. In two cases closure was only achieved by using the reserved skin fold during the first surgery. Of the remaining eight cases, in seven we used the myocutaneous flap (four cases of lattisimus dorsi muscle and three cases of pectoralis major muscle), and in one case we used soft tissue. As regards complications of the closure, tissue necrosis occurred in one case, which led to failed closure, and there was one case of abdominal hernia in the rectus abdominis muscle flap. One patient died within 30 days of the surgery and one patient died of metastatic cancer. CONCLUSION: A staged operation with a final closure using open window thoracostomy, which consists of open drainage, transposition of the muscle and a myocutaneous flap, can be a safe and effective option for the chronic empyema patient who is difficult to cure with traditional surgical methods.
Aspergillosis ; Busan ; Drainage ; Empyema* ; Empyema, Tuberculous ; Female ; Fistula ; Hernia, Abdominal ; Humans ; Male ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Necrosis ; Pleura ; Rectus Abdominis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; Shock, Septic ; Skin ; Thoracostomy*

BACKGROUND: In contrast to tuberculous pleurisy, tuberculous empyema is a chronic active infectious disease of the pleural cavity that is frequently accompanied by cavitary or advanced pulmonary lesions. The condition requires long-term anti-tuberculous medication with external drainage. The clinical features and treatment outcome of tuberculous empyema are unclear despite the high prevalence of tuberculosis in Korea. METHODS: From January 1991 through April 2004, 17 patients diagnosed with tuberculous empyema in Kyungpook National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Their medical records and chest radiographs were reviewed. RESULTS: Twelve patients(71%) had a history of tuberculosis and six of the 12 patients were under current anti-tuberculous medication. Productive cough, fever, and dyspnea were the main complaints. There was no predominance between the right and left lungs. Nine patients(53%) had far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, two(12%) had a cavitary lesion, and seven(41%) had a pyopneumothorax on the chest radiograph. All eight cases in whom the data of pleural fluid WBC differential count was available showed polymorphonuclear leukocyte predominance. Eight patients(47%) had other bacterial infections as well. The overall rates of a positive sputum AFB smear and culture for M. tuberculosis were 71% and 64%, respectively. The positive AFB smear and culture rates for M. tuberculosis from the pleural fluid were 33% and 36%, respectively. Twelve of the 16 patients(75%) were treated successfully. Three underwent additional surgical intervention. Two patients (12%) died during treatment. CONCLUSION: Tuberculous empyema is frequently accompanied by advanced pulmonary lesions, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes are predominant in the pleural fluid. Other accompanying bacterial infections in the pleural cavity are also common in tuberculous empyema patients. Therefore, tuberculous empyema should be considered in differential diagnosis of patients with polymorphonuclear leukocyte-predominant pleural effusion. In addition, more active effort will be needed to achieve a bacteriological diagnosis in the pleural fluid.
Bacterial Infections ; Communicable Diseases ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Empyema ; Empyema, Tuberculous* ; Fever ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Pleural Cavity ; Pleural Effusion ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary