title: Pleural space disease in pediatric patients: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: Pleural space disease, pleural effusions, and parapneumonic empyema present a therapeutic dilemma regarding the most appropriate medical and surgical management (i.e., performing a thoracentesis on admission versus delayed, placing a pigtail catheter versus a regular chest tube, and performing early versus late thoracoscopy). Other questions remain about early surgical intervention to decrease morbidity, shorten hospital stay, and produce cost-effective results. To define a clinical approach for a prospective study, the charts of all patients who were discharged with ICD-9 codes 511.8, 511.9, and 510.9, between June 5, 1991, and May 7, 1995, were reviewed. Thirty-one patients were identified. A database was developed and the results were analyzed. This paper presents a clinical pathway suggested by this retrospective study with cost analysis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Program, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Padman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019091:Critical Pathways; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents