The diagnosis and management of pleural empyema.
The diagnosis and management of pleural infection continues to improve steadily. Recent advances include: newer, smaller, and more comfortable chest drainage catheters; improved pleural pus drainage with the aid of intrapleural fibrinolytics; and improved surgical procedures including thoracoscopic surgery. The optimal size of chest drainage tube remains a matter of debate, with no large data sets available to clarify the optimal tube size. In contrast, there are now small controlled trials of sound basic methodology which suggest a therapeutic role for both fibrinolytics and thoracoscopy. Studies large enough to establish clearly the efficacy and safety of these approaches are now at the planning and recruitment stage.
Davies
R J
RJ
Osler Chest Unit Churchill Hospital Site, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, UK.
Gleeson
F V
FV
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents