TITLE:
Decade Experience in Pleurectomy and Lung Decortications for Chronic Empyema Thoracis
AUTHORS:
Nwafor Ikechukwu Andrew, Ogbudu Stephen, Eze John Chukwuemeka, Ezemba Ndubueze
KEYWORDS:
Emyema, Developing, Decade, Pleurectomy, Decortication
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery,
Vol.8 No.10,
October
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic empyema thoracis is a debilitating illness with high morbidity and mortality, and is seen among all age groups in Nigeria. Objective: To review all cases of chronic empyema thoracis treated by pleurectomy and lung decortication and highlight the indications, challenges and the outcome. Materials and Method: In a 10-year period spanning 2007-2016, 90 patients with chronic empyema thoracis were admitted and managed in our institution. A retrospective study of 36 patients who underwent surgery was performed. Results: Ten patients (27.80%) out of 36 patients had unsuccessful one month closed chest tube drainage (CTTD). Six patients (16.67%) were referred from peripheral hospitals as chronic empyema thoracis that had failed CTTD. The remainder, 20 (55.60%) were diagnosed as chronic empyema thoracis de novo. Conclusion: Chronic empyema thoracis is a very difficult disease to manage especially in developing countries like ours, where patients present very late and the requisite facilities are inadequate.