title: [Pleural empyema. Thoracoscoopic treatment].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the use of primary and secondary thoracoscopy in children with parapneumonic empyema.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a retrospective study of 24 children entered our hospital between years 1998 and 2003.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early thoracoscopy doesn't influence in length of stay. 12 children (50%) were treated with previous chest tube and other 12 children (50%) without it. There is statistical significance in length of hospital stay. The days with postoperative fever didn't decrease, but it was seen if we compare it from the beginning of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An early thoracoscopy decrease length of hospital stay and the duration of fever postoperative.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López Díaz
authors.forename: J L Antón-Pacheco
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: A Garcia
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: I Cano
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Novillo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cabezalí Barbancho
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Benavent Gordo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*