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

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.
Empyema ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy

Adolescent ; Empyema, Subdural ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Sinusitis ; complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Aged ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Empyema/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Nocardia/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Pneumonia/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics and managements of pyothorax due to postoperative cervical anastomotic leakage after esophageal cancer surgery.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to January 2013, 3342 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. Of them, 19 patients developed pyothorax following cervical anastomotic leakage and their clinicopathological data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSAll the patients underwent a cervical anastomosis via a three-incisional approach (right cervicothoracic mid-abdominal incision, RT group, n=1094) or a two-incisional approach (left cervicothoracic incision, LT group, n=2248). The total number of cervical anastomotic leakage cases was 237, of which 152 cases were in LT group (6.8%), and 85 cases in RT group (7.8%), respectively (P=0.287). The incidence of pyothorax was 2.0% (n=3) in LT group, and 18.8% (n=16) in RT group, respectively (P<0.01). Fourteen cases develop pyothorax within 3 days after operation. The main symptoms were high fever, dyspnea and chest pain. All the pyothorax patients received conservative treatments, including thoracic closed drainage, nasogastric tube placement, jejunal stoma, nutritional support, antibiotics and symptomatic treatment. Sixteen cases were cured, while 3 cases were dead.

CONCLUSIONSThe right thoracotomy approach predisposes the cervical anastomotic leakage-associated pyothorax. Sufficient drainage and sufficient nutritional support are critical to the treatment.

Aged ; Anastomotic Leak ; Drainage ; methods ; Empyema, Pleural ; etiology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Streptococcus pneumoniae can asymptomatically colonize the nasopharynx and cause a diverse range of illnesses. This clinical spectrum from colonization to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) appears to depend on the pneumococcal capsular serotype rather than the genetic background. According to a literature review, serotypes 1, 4, 5, 7F, 8, 12F, 14, 18C, and 19A are more likely to cause IPD. Although serotypes 1 and 19A are the predominant causes of invasive pneumococcal pneumonia, serotype 14 remains one of the most common etiologic agents of non-bacteremic pneumonia in adults, even after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) introduction. Serotypes 1, 3, and 19A pneumococci are likely to cause empyema and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Serotype 1 pneumococcal meningitis is prevalent in the African meningitis belt, with a high fatality rate. In contrast to the capsule type, genotype is more closely associated with antibiotic resistance. CC320/271 strains expressing serotype 19A are multidrug-resistant (MDR) and prevalent worldwide in the era of PCV7. Several clones of MDR serotype 6C pneumococci emerged, and a MDR 6D clone (ST282) has been identified in Korea. Since the pneumococcal epidemiology of capsule types varies geographically and temporally, a nationwide serosurveillance system is vital to establishing appropriate vaccination strategies for each country.
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Empyema/etiology ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/etiology ; Humans ; Meningitis/etiology ; Peritonitis/etiology ; Pneumococcal Infections/complications/*immunology ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal/immunology ; Serotyping ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/*classification/pathogenicity

BACKGROUND: Pneumonectomy remains the ultimate curative treatment modality for destroyed lung caused by tuberculosis despite multiple risks involved in the procedure. We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent pneumonectomy for treatment of sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis to determine the risk factors of early and long-term outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1980 and December 2008, pneumonectomy or pleuropneumonectomy was performed in 73 consecutive patients with destroyed lung caused by tuberculosis. There were 48 patients with empyema (12 with bronchopleural fistula [BPF]), 11 with aspergilloma and 7 with multidrug resistant tuberculosis. RESULTS: There were 5 operative mortalities (6.8%). One patient had intraoperative uncontrolled arrhythmia, one had a postoperative cardiac arrest, and three had postoperative respiratory failure. A total of 29 patients (39.7%) suffered from postoperative complications. Twelve patients (16.7%) were found to have postpneumonectomy empyema (PPE), 4 patients had wound infections (5.6%), and 7 patients required re-exploration due to postoperative bleeding (9.7%). The prevalence of PPE increased in patients with preoperative empyema (p=0.019). There were five patients with postoperative BPF, four of which occurred in right-side operation. The only risk factor for BPF was the right-side operation (p=0.023). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 88.9% and 76.2%, respectively. The risk factors for late deaths were old age (> or =50 years, p=0.02) and low predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (<1.2 L, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Although PPE increases in patients with preoperative empyema and postoperative BPF increases in right-side operation, the mortality rates and long-term survival rates were found to be satisfactory. However, the follow-up care for patients with low predicted postoperative FEV1 should continue for prevention and early detection of pulmonary complication related to impaired pulmonary function.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Empyema ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Heart Arrest ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Wound Infection

Alkanes ; adverse effects ; Empyema ; chemically induced ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; chemically induced ; complications

Lactococcus lactis cremoris infections are very rare in humans. We experienced liver abscess and empyema due to L. lactis cremoris in an immunocompetent adult. A 42-yr-old man was admitted with fever and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a liver abscess and chest CT showed loculated pleural effusion consistent with empyema. L. lactis cremoris was isolated from culture of the abscess material and blood. The patient was treated with pus drainage from liver abscess, video-assisted thoracoscopic decortications for empyema, and antibiotics including cefotaxime and levofloxacin. The patient was completely recovered with the treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a L. lactis cremoris infection in Korea.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Cefotaxime/therapeutic use ; Drainage ; Empyema/*diagnosis/*microbiology/surgery ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Lactococcus lactis/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Liver Abscess/*diagnosis/*microbiology ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Ofloxacin/therapeutic use ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The repair of complex chest wall defects presents a challenging problem for the reconstructive surgeon. In particular, a free flap is often required when the defect is large, in which case suitable recipient vessels must be found to insure revascularization. The authors report a case of persistent bronchopleural-cutaneous fistula developed after undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer. METHODS: The defect area was repaired using a free vertical rectus abdominis muscle flap revascularized by microvascular anastomosis to the 6th intercostal pedicle. The flap obliterated the right chest cavity, closed the site of empyema drainage, and aided healing of a bronchopleuralcutaneous fistula. RESULTS: The patient has remained healed for 14 months without any postoperative complications or recurrent infection or fistula. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a rectus abdominis musculocutaneus free flap and intercostal pedicle as a recipient could be a useful method for repair of chest defects.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Fistula ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Lung ; Muscles ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectus Abdominis ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax