title: Managment of thoracic empyema.
abstract: Over a ten year period, 102 patients with thoracic empyemata were treated at Boston City Hospital. Only three patients died from the pleural infection while twenty-six succumbed to the associated diseases. Priniciples of management include: (1) thoracentesis; (2) antibiotics; (3) closed-tube thoracostomy; (4) sinogram; (5) open drainage; (6) empyemectomy and decortication in selected patients; and (7) bronchoscopy and barium swallow when the etiology is uncertain.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D004653:Empyema / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004654:Empyema, Tuberculous / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents