OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term outcomes of pediatric pleural empyema. DESIGN: Prospective observational study from October 2008 to October 2011. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children with pleural empyema (loculations and/or septations identified on radiologic imaging or frank pus on thoracentesis). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Children were seen 1, 6, and 12 months postdischarge. Outcome measures included symptoms and signs of respiratory disease, child and parental impact, radiographic resolution, spirometry, and health-related quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory score). Analysis was based on the last observation carried forward for missing data. RESULTS: Eighty-two of 88 patients (93%) eligible were recruited. Fifty-four percent were male and mean (SD) age was 4.5 (3.4) years. Outcome data was obtained in 100% at 1 month, 90% at 6 months, and 72% at 1 year. Seventy-one percent had effusions occupying a quarter or more of the hemithorax and 62% of effusions were drained. Fever, cough, parental work loss, child school loss, radiographic abnormalities, and abnormal spirometry results were common in the first month and then declined. By the last observation, 2% of patients had abnormal radiographs (aside from pleural thickening), 6% had mild obstruction on spirometry, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores were better than for children with asthma (P < .001). Patients with abnormal outcomes in 1 measure had normal outcomes in all other clinical measures. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically important phenomena persist in the short-term, but virtually all children with pleural empyema have no long-term sequelae.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term outcomes of pediatric pleural empyema. DESIGN: Prospective observational study from October 2008 to October 2011. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children with pleural empyema (loculations and/or septations identified on radiologic imaging or frank pus on thoracentesis). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Children were seen 1, 6, and 12 months postdischarge. Outcome measures included symptoms and signs of respiratory disease, child and parental impact, radiographic resolution, spirometry, and health-related quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory score). Analysis was based on the last observation carried forward for missing data. RESULTS: Eighty-two of 88 patients (93%) eligible were recruited. Fifty-four percent were male and mean (SD) age was 4.5 (3.4) years. Outcome data was obtained in 100% at 1 month, 90% at 6 months, and 72% at 1 year. Seventy-one percent had effusions occupying a quarter or more of the hemithorax and 62% of effusions were drained. Fever, cough, parental work loss, child school loss, radiographic abnormalities, and abnormal spirometry results were common in the first month and then declined. By the last observation, 2% of patients had abnormal radiographs (aside from pleural thickening), 6% had mild obstruction on spirometry, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores were better than for children with asthma (P < .001). Patients with abnormal outcomes in 1 measure had normal outcomes in all other clinical measures. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically important phenomena persist in the short-term, but virtually all children with pleural empyema have no long-term sequelae.
Authors: Marijke Proesmans; Brenda Gijsens; Patricia Van de Wijdeven; Herbert De Caluwe; Jan Verhaegen; Katrien Lagrou; Ellen Van Even; Francois Vermeulen; Kris De Boeck Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2014-05-17 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Michael H Livingston; Sanjay Mahant; Felix Ratjen; Bairbre L Connolly; Kevin Thorpe; Muhammad Mamdani; Ian Maclusky; Sophie Laberge; Lucy Giglia; J Mark Walton; Connie L Yang; Ashley Roberts; Anna C Shawyer; Mary Brindle; Simon J Parsons; Cristina A Stoian; Eyal Cohen Journal: Trials Date: 2017-06-24 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Koen Huysentruyt; Philippe Alliet; Marc Raes; Julie Willekens; Iris De Schutter; Elke De Wachter; Anne Malfroot; Thierry Devreker; Philippe Goyens; Yvan Vandenplas; Jean De Schepper Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-04 Impact factor: 3.240