Necrotizing pneumonia in children submitted to thoracoscopy due to pleural empyema: incidence, treatment and clinical evolution.

Objective: To assess the incidence of necrotizing pneumonia (NP) in children submitted to thoracoscopy, comparing patients with and without NP in terms of the presentation and clinical evolution.

Methods: A retrospective study of children with pleural empyema submitted to thoracoscopy. Thoracoscopy was performed in patients not previously submitted to thoracic drainage and in whom there was evidence of loculated effusion or pneumothorax, as well as in those previously submitted to thoracic drainage and in whom there was persistent pneumothorax or fever with purulent discharge.