Background: Empyema is a common thoracic surgery presentation, defined as pus in the pleural space. Despite the commonality of empyema, consensus on initial management remains ambiguous. Two standard of care treatment options include inserting a chest tube (thoracostomy) and the administration of intrapleural fibrinolytics, or an initial surgical approach, surgical decortication. Due to the complexity of this pleural space infection, often repeat interventions are required after initial management in order to achieve source control and resolution of clinical symptoms. This study aims to identify the most effective initial management option for empyema.
Study Design: We present a study protocol for a randomized control trial (RCT) comparing adult individuals with empyema to one of two standard of care initial management options. Participants will be randomized into either interventional radiology guided chest tube insertion with intrapleural fibrinolytics (Dornase 5 mg and Alteplase 10 mg intrapleural twice daily for three days) or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) decortication.
Methods: All adults with empyema meeting inclusion criteria will be invited to participate. They will be randomized into one of two intervention groups; interventional radiology guided chest tube insertion with fibrinolytics or initial VATS decortication. Each intervention will take place within 48 hours of randomization. The primary outcome will be the rate of re-intervention within 30 days. Re-intervention is defined as repeat chest tube insertion, VATS decortication, or decortication via thoracotomy. Secondary outcomes include a change in the size of empyema, length of stay, morbidity, as well as 30-day and 90-day mortality, as well as quality of life measurements.
Anticipated Impact: This study is aimed at identifying the most effective initial management option for individuals with empyema.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100777 | DOI Listing |
J Med Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Los Angeles General Medical Center/University of Southern California, 1100 N. State St., Clinic Tower A4E, Los Angeles, CA, 90034, USA.
Background: The sunken flap or sinking skin flap syndrome is a complication that can be observed following decompressive craniectomy. More rare, sinking skin flap syndrome can occur as an iatrogenic complication of pleural effusion evacuation via chest tube placement in the presence of ventriculopleural shunt.
Case Presentation: We report the case of a Hispanic male patient in his 20s who presented to the emergency department after sustaining a penetrating gunshot wound to the head.
J Am Coll Radiol
December 2024
Department of Interventional Radiology: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Pickens Academic Tower, Houston, TX 77030-4000. Electronic address:
Objective: To evaluate the relevance of established surgical risk calculators (SRCs) for predicting complications in patients undergoing percutaneous lung cryoablation (PLC).
Methods: The institution's database was queried for PLC procedures from March 2015 to May 2024, excluding those patients with concomitant local therapies or five or more lesions treated in a single setting. Demographics, frailty metrics as defined by the surgical literature, and procedural variables were collected.
Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med
November 2024
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, Department of Anesthesia, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Introduction: Although myocardial injury is common after blunt chest trauma, tricuspid valve injury associated with traumatic atrial septal defect resulting in acute hypoxia is an infrequent event. We report an unusual case of blunt chest trauma referred to us for unexplained hypoxemia, emphasizing the unusual nature of injury and the importance of comprehensive cardiac evaluation in such cases.
Case Report: A 35-year-old male presented to the emergency department after falling from a tree from an approximate height of 15 feet.
Monaldi Arch Chest Dis
December 2024
Department of Pulmonology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore.
The management of persistent malignant pleural effusion (MPE) or uremic pleural effusions requires the removal of pleural fluid and the prevention of recurrence through pleurodesis. Pleurodesis involves injecting a sclerosing agent into the pleura to encourage adhesion between the two layers, ultimately obliterating the pleural space. Povidone-iodine is a potential pleurodesing agent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, Gainesville, USA.
Hemothorax is a serious complication following thoracic surgery, often resulting from vessel injury or rib fractures, and is typically managed with chest tube drainage. Persistent or loculated hemothorax, referred to as retained hemothorax, may require more invasive interventions, such as thoracotomy. Although the intrapleural administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) has shown promise in managing pleural infections, its use for hemothorax remains controversial due to bleeding risks.
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