[Treatment of empyema and complicated pleural effusion with intrapleural fibrinolysis].
OBJECTIVE
Intrapleural fibrinolysis (IPF) can avoid surgery in patients with loculated pleural effusions. Few clinical trials on IPF for the treatment of empyemas (PEM) and complicated pleural effusions (CPE) have been reported. We describe here our experience with IPF in the treatment of PEM/CPE patients.


METHODS
81 patients with PEM/CPE were included. Urokinase, 100000 U, was instilled into the pleural cavity, three times a day. A mean of 12.9 doses of urokinase were administered.


RESULTS
The mean of days having a chest tube was 7.7 days and the mean hospital stay was 22.2 days. No radiological sequelae were observed or these were mild in 66 cases (81.5%). There were four deaths and three patients needed surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
IPF is an efective and reliable method for the treatment of PEM/CPE.
Montero Ruiz
Eduardo
E
Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias. Alcalá de Henares. Madrid. Spain. emonteror@wanadoo.es
Daguerre Talou
Martín
M
López Alvarez
Joaquín
J
Hernández Ahijado
Concepción
C
D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator