Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIM: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered a safe and effective option in the treatment of childhood empyema. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of early referral for primary VATS in childhood empyema. METHOD: A cohort of 24 consecutive children (12 boys, 12 girls) from 2004 to 2009 with post-pneumonic empyema, as demonstrated by loculation on ultrasound, undergoing VATS at a single tertiary level institution, was reviewed. All cases of empyema were managed as per the local protocol of early referral for primary VATS. RESULTS: Mean age of presentation was 54 months (5 months to 15 years). Mean duration of symptoms before presentation to our centre was 6.29 days (±2.74 days) (range 1-10 days) and mean time to referral to the paediatric surgical unit was 1.95 days (±2.57 days). VATS was performed in all patients with a mean operating time 113.7 min (±37.0 min), which included time for bronchoscopy (range 43-184 min). The mean duration of chest drainage was 4 days (±2.96 days) and post-operative hospitalisation was 6.88 days (±4.11 days). CONCLUSION: Early primary VATS for post-pneumonic empyema in children demonstrated a higher success rate, lower conversion to open thoracotomy improved outcome and shorter hospitalisation.
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Authors | Shanta Velaiutham, Sanjeeva Pathmanathan, Bruce Whitehead, Rajendra Kumar |
Journal | Pediatric surgery international
(Pediatr Surg Int)
Vol. 26
Issue 10
Pg. 1031-5
(Oct 2010)
ISSN: 1437-9813 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 20640576
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Empyema, Pleural
(diagnosis, surgery)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Infant
- Length of Stay
(trends)
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
(methods)
- Treatment Outcome
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