title: Persistent abnormal lung function after childhood empyema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine pulmonary function tests in children at various time points in their recovery from empyema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic Children's Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric patients with a diagnosis of empyema between 1992-2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 45 pulmonary function tests were carried out in 36 study participants. Within 3 months of hospital discharge, 91% of pulmonary function tests demonstrated a restrictive pattern with a mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of 69.2 +/- 4% and a mean total lung capacity (TLC) of 74.9 +/- 4% of predicted. The incidence of restriction in pulmonary function significantly decreased over time and for patients tested > 1 year from hospital discharge the mean FVC was 87.1 +/- 2% and the mean TLC 95.0 +/- 2% of predicted. However, 19% of the patients tested > 1 year from discharge demonstrated a mild restrictive pattern and 16% demonstrated a mild obstructive changes. Patients with abnormal lung function > 1 year from hospital discharge did not demonstrate any signs or symptoms of respiratory insufficiency .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high incidence of restrictive patterns in lung function for children tested within 3 months from hospital discharge for empyema. The incidence of restrictive patterns decreased significantly over time and most patients tested >1 year from hospital discharge demonstrated normal lung function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. gary.kohn@ahsys.org
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walston
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldstein
authors.forename: Brad W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Succop
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hardie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014109:Total Lung Capacity; D014797:Vital Capacity