Thoracoscopic treatment of pediatric lung abscesses.
OBJECTIVE
Lung abscesses in the pediatric population are relatively rare. We present our consecutive series of thoracoscopically treated pediatric lung abscesses.


METHODS
A retrospective review of children who underwent thoracoscopic drainage of intraparenchymal lung abscesses between October 2006 and January 2009 at a tertiary referral center. All patients had associated parapneumonic empyema and underwent drainage of the abscess concurrently with thoracoscopic treatment of the empyema.


RESULTS
Eleven children (4 boys and 7 girls) had thoracoscopic intervention for lung abscesses. A total of seventeen abscesses were drained. All procedures were completed thoracoscopically. There were no mortalities or long-term bronchopleural fistulas. No child required a formal thoracotomy, lung resection or a second operation. Mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 11.0 days (range, 3-36). Mean length of stay was 19.5 days (range, 6-77 days). Mean duration of postoperative chest tube was 3.6 days (range, 2-8). Mean length to defervescence was 4.8 days (range, 1-11 days). Mean duration of postoperative antibiotics was 23.6 days (range, 3-56). Eight children had organisms identified from intraoperative cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracoscopic drainage of pediatric lung abscesses is a viable and safe treatment option. Thoracoscopic abscess drainage is associated with minimal morbidity and may result in faster recovery and a shorter course of antibiotics.
Nagasawa
Kelly K
KK
Hawaii Surgical Residency Program, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. knagasaw@hawaii.edu
Johnson
Sidney M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents