title: Historical developments in the management of empyema.
abstract: The diagnosis and treatment of empyema was first described by Hippocrates over 2000 years ago. Virtually nothing else pertaining to this disease was recorded until the early 18th century. Since that time, numerous treatments have been described including open and closed tube drainage, thoracentesis, and thoracoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Rush Medical College, St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Faber
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D004653:Empyema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D006115:Greece; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000379:methods