title: [The role of video-endoscopy in the treatment of thoracic empyema].
abstract: The authors present their results in treating 103 cases of empyema thoracis, phase II, the fibropurulent stage, by video-endoscopy (Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery, VATS). They highlight in which phase this method can be successful, depending on the status of the empyema, on the basis of their experiences over a ten-year period. They find its use superfluous in phase I, the exudative phase, because a suitable antibiotic and suction drainage treatment is sufficient. In phase III of empyema thoracis the use of VATS proved to be unsuccessful. In phase II they prefer video-thoracoscopy to fibrinolytic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kaposi Mór Megyei Oktató Kórház, Kaposvár, II. sz. Altalános Sebészeti, Er- es Mellkassebészeti Osztály. baloghg@kmmk.hu
authors.forename: Balogh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gábor
authors.forename: Vincze
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Károly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D004322:Drainage; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome