title: Empyema thoracis in patients undergoing emergent closed tube thoracostomy for thoracic trauma.
abstract: The vast majority of thoracic trauma victims require only observation or tube thoracostomy for definitive treatment of their thoracic injury. Although tube thoracostomy is generally considered a limited intervention, 2 to 25 percent of patients who undergo this procedure develop infectious complications. To determine the incidence and risk factors for the development of empyema thoracis after tube thoracostomy, a retrospective study was undertaken. We found that the development of empyema thoracis was increased in patients whose pleural space was incompletely drained and whose thoracic catheters were in place for a prolonged period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98194.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Eddy
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Copass
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D004653:Empyema / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000601:surgery; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000601:surgery