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.
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.
Authors: N Kalfa; H Allal; F Montes-Tapia; M Lopez; D Forgues; M P Guibal; F Counil; R B Galifer Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2004-02-02 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Curtis J Wozniak; Douglas E Paull; Jazbieh E Moezzi; Rosalyn P Scott; Mark P Anstadt; Virginia V York; Alex G Little Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Samatha Sonnappa; Gordon Cohen; Catherine M Owens; Carin van Doorn; John Cairns; Sanja Stanojevic; Martin J Elliott; Adam Jaffé Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2006-05-04 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Shawn D St Peter; Kuojen Tsao; Troy L Spilde; Scott J Keckler; Christopher Harrison; Mary Ann Jackson; Susan W Sharp; Walter S Andrews; Doug C Rivard; Frank P Morello; George W Holcomb; Daniel J Ostlie Journal: J Pediatr Surg Date: 2009-01 Impact factor: 2.545
Authors: Hany Hasan Elsayed; Ahmed Mostafa; Essam Fathy; Haytham S Diab; Ibrahim Mostafa Nofal; Osama Abbas AbdelHamid; Hatem Yazeed El-Bawab; Ahmed A ElNori Journal: J Vis Surg Date: 2018-05-29