Awake video-assisted pleural decortication for empyema thoracis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate feasibility, technical features and results of video-assisted pleural decortication for empyema thoracis performed in awake patients.


METHODS
This retrospective analysis involved a cohort of 19 patients (median age: 58 years) undergoing awake video-assisted thoracoscopic pleural decortication under epidural anaesthesia (N=15) or paravertebral blocks (N=4) between March 2004 and September 2008. Baseline and perioperative data including degree of postoperative lung re-expansion at 48 h, hospital stay, morbidity rate and daily fluid loss were recorded. In addition, intra- and perioperative changes in main pathophysiological variables PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio, PaCO(2), mean arterial pressure and heart rate were analysed.


RESULTS
Origin of the empyema was parapneumonic (N=14), post-traumatic (N=3) and cancer related (N=2). All patients underwent previous conservative management. The duration of the symptoms averaged 35 days (quartile range (QR): 28-40). Co-morbidities included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (N=4), HIV infection (N=1), diabetes mellitus (N=2) and cirrhosis (N=1). Operation was performed videothoracospically in 15 patients whereas four patients with major pleural thickening underwent awake lateral thoracotomy. Operative time averaged 50 min (QR: 40-70). Perioperative data analysis showed no intra-operative deterioration in arterial oxygenation (median-Delta: 0 mm Hg, QR: -5/+9, P=0.6). Transient permissive hypercapnia (<55 mm Hg) developed in three patients with no need of conversion to general anaesthesia. Median pain level assessed by a visual analogue score (VAS) 1h postoperatively was 4 (QR: 2-5), and it was significantly reduced on postoperative day 1 (median 3, QR: 2-4, P=0.03). There was neither mortality nor major morbidity. Hospitalisation averaged 6 days (QR: 5-7). At postoperative chest X-ray, lung re-expansion was rated as complete in 16 patients, satisfactory in (>80%) two patients and unsatisfactory in a 86-year-old patient with pleural mesothelioma who has the chest drain still in place 5 months after surgery. No patient had recurrence of the empyema at subsequent follow-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, awake video-assisted pleural decortication proved feasible and resulted in satisfactory lung re-expansion in 95% of the patients. We hypothesise that spontaneous ventilation facilitated both identification of the correct plane and dissection, thus resulting in lesser surgical injury on the underlying lung.
Tacconi
Federico
F
Thoracic Surgery Division, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Tor Vergata University School of Thoracic Surgery, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy. tacconifederico@libero.it
Pompeo
Eugenio
E
Fabbi
Eleonora
E
Mineo
Tommaso Claudio
TC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen