OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine pulmonary function tests in children at various time points in their recovery from empyema. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Academic Children's Hospital. PATIENTS: Pediatric patients with a diagnosis of empyema between 1992-2000. RESULTS: A total of 45 pulmonary function tests were carried out in 36 study participants. Within 3 months of hospital discharge, 91% of pulmonary function tests demonstrated a restrictive pattern with a mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of 69.2 +/- 4% and a mean total lung capacity (TLC) of 74.9 +/- 4% of predicted. The incidence of restriction in pulmonary function significantly decreased over time and for patients tested > 1 year from hospital discharge the mean FVC was 87.1 +/- 2% and the mean TLC 95.0 +/- 2% of predicted. However, 19% of the patients tested > 1 year from discharge demonstrated a mild restrictive pattern and 16% demonstrated a mild obstructive changes. Patients with abnormal lung function > 1 year from hospital discharge did not demonstrate any signs or symptoms of respiratory insufficiency . CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of restrictive patterns in lung function for children tested within 3 months from hospital discharge for empyema. The incidence of restrictive patterns decreased significantly over time and most patients tested >1 year from hospital discharge demonstrated normal lung function.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine pulmonary function tests in children at various time points in their recovery from empyema. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Academic Children's Hospital. PATIENTS: Pediatric patients with a diagnosis of empyema between 1992-2000. RESULTS: A total of 45 pulmonary function tests were carried out in 36 study participants. Within 3 months of hospital discharge, 91% of pulmonary function tests demonstrated a restrictive pattern with a mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of 69.2 +/- 4% and a mean total lung capacity (TLC) of 74.9 +/- 4% of predicted. The incidence of restriction in pulmonary function significantly decreased over time and for patients tested > 1 year from hospital discharge the mean FVC was 87.1 +/- 2% and the mean TLC 95.0 +/- 2% of predicted. However, 19% of the patients tested > 1 year from discharge demonstrated a mild restrictive pattern and 16% demonstrated a mild obstructive changes. Patients with abnormal lung function > 1 year from hospital discharge did not demonstrate any signs or symptoms of respiratory insufficiency . CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of restrictive patterns in lung function for children tested within 3 months from hospital discharge for empyema. The incidence of restrictive patterns decreased significantly over time and most patients tested >1 year from hospital discharge demonstrated normal lung function.
Authors: John S Bradley; Carrie L Byington; Samir S Shah; Brian Alverson; Edward R Carter; Christopher Harrison; Sheldon L Kaplan; Sharon E Mace; George H McCracken; Matthew R Moore; Shawn D St Peter; Jana A Stockwell; Jack T Swanson Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2011-08-31 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Joanne M Langley; James D Kellner; Nataly Solomon; Joan L Robinson; Nicole Le Saux; Jane McDonald; Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez; Ben Tan; Upton Allen; Simon Dobson; Heather Joudrey Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2008-09-25 Impact factor: 3.090