Intrapleural fibrinolytics combined with image-guided chest tube drainage for pleural infection.

Objective: To present our method of treating pleural infection by using a combination of image-guided chest tube drainage and intrapleural fibrinolytics.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts and radiographs of 30 consecutive patients with pleural infection who were seen at our institution from December 15, 1995, to July 1, 2006, 27 of whom received intrapleural urokinase or tissue-type plasminogen activator. End points were death, length of stay in the hospital, and percentage of patients who needed surgery.