Instillation of fibrinolytic enzymes in the treatment of pleural empyema.

Acute pleural empyema which is not amenable to pleural puncture or closed thoracic drainage should be treated operatively by decortication or, in persistent cavities, by open thoracostomy drainage. In the last 2 years we have instilled 500,000 IU of fibrinolysines (streptokinase and streptodornase) per day into the pleural cavity of 27 patients with pleural infections requiring closed intrapleural drainage. By means of this treatment, pus and fibrinous membranes are liquefied and necrotic tissue is discharge.