| Title |
Successful video-assisted thoracic surgery for pleural empyema / |
| Another Title |
Sėkmingas minimaliai invazinis chirurginis pleuros empiemos gydymas. |
| Authors |
Jagelavičius, Žymantas ; Jovaišas, Vytautas ; Kybartas, Algis ; Žilinskas, Arūnas ; Lukoševičiūtė, Lina ; Janilionis, Ričardas ; Samalavičius, Narimantas Evaldas |
| DOI |
10.15388/LietChirur.2014.3896 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Lietuvos chirurgija.. Vilnius : Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. 2014, t. 13, Nr. 3, p. 168-176.. ISSN 1392-0995. eISSN 1648-9942 |
| Keywords [eng] |
pleural empyema ; pyothorax ; video-assisted thoracic surgery ; empyemectomy ; debridement ; decortication |
| Abstract [eng] |
Background / Objective Few thoracic conditions present such a considerable challenge as does pleural empyema. The disease is known since Hippocrates’ time, nonetheless it is still associated with the rising incidence all over the world. Minimally invasive procedures become more and more popular in many fields of surgery as well as in patients with pleural empyema. However, video-assisted thoracoscopy cannot replace open surgery in all empyema cases. In this report, we would like to present our thoracoscopic technique and preliminary experience in treating patients with pleural empyema. Patients and methods During the period from January 2011 till September 2013, thoracoscopic empyemectomy was performed in 49 patients. All patients were operated on under general anaesthesia using single lung ventilation. All procedures were performed through two or three ports. Conversion to thoracotomy was performed when it was impossible to make successfully thoracoscopic empyemectomy. Results A video-assisted thoracoscopic operation was successful in 36 (73.5%) patients, whereas in 13 (26.5 %) cases a conversion was required. Pleural space adhesions and inability to remove completely the peel from the underlying lung were the main reasons for conversion. Ten (20%) patients had postoperative complications such as recurrence of disease, prolonged air leak, or wound infection. Conclusions Minimally invasive surgery is a safe and effective treating of patients with pleural empyema. However, we should search for preoperative factors of identifying the right persons who could be cured successfully by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. |
| Published |
Vilnius : Vilniaus universiteto leidykla |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2014 |
| CC license |
|
