Open AccessManagement of chronic empyema with unexpandable lung in poor surgical risk patients using an empyema tube
Author(s) -
Abhishek Biswas,
Michael A. Jantz,
Andrea M. Penley,
Hiren J. Mehta
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
lung india
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 0974-598X
pISSN - 0970-2113
DOI - 10.4103/0970-2113.180802
Subject(s) - medicine , empyema , surgery , decortication , chest tube , drainage , pneumothorax , ecology , biology
High preoperative risk precludes decortication and other surgical interventions in some patients with chronic empyema. We manage such patients by converting the chest tube into an "empyema tube," cutting the tube near the skin and securing the end with a sterile clip to allow for open pleural drainage. The patient is followed serially, and the tube gradually withdrawn based on radiological resolution and amount of drainage.