title: Intrapleural urokinase in the management of parapneumonic empyema: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: We compared the effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase versus normal saline via a thoracostomy tube in the treatment of parapneumonic empyema in a randomised controlled study. Forty-nine patients with parapneumonic empyema were randomly assigned to receive either intrapleural urokinase or normal saline treatment. The daily volume instilled through a chest tube was 100 ml in both groups. Urokinase (100,000 IU/day) was diluted in normal saline before instillation. The mean duration for defervescence was shorter (7 +/- 3 vs 13 +/- 5 days, p<0.01) and the mean volume of drained fluid during the five-day treatment period was significantly greater in the urokinase group (1.8 +/- 1.5 vs 0.8 +/- 0.8 litres, p<0.001) than in the control group. The subsequent decortication rate was 60% and 29.1%, respectively (p<0.001). The duration of hospitalisation was also shorter in the urokinase group (14 +/- 4 vs 21 +/- 4 days, p<0.001) than in the saline group. We conclude that intrapleural instillation of urokinase in the management of parapneumonic empyema provides a better outcome and reduces the need for decortication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuncozgur
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ustunsoy
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sivrikoz
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dikensoy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elbeyli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator