Thoracoscopic Drainage and Decortication as Definitive Treatment for Empyema Thoracis Following Penetrating Chest Injury

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Empyema

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] In trauma patients, VATS has been advocated as a safe and effective way to evacuate persistent pleural effusions or clotted hemothoraces; however, few reports describe using VATS techniques for the drainage and decortication of posttraumatic empyema. [11][12][13][14] Open thoracotomy remains the criterion standard therapy for posttraumatic empyema; however, given the success of VATS techniques in the treatment of a number of thoracic problems including parapneumonic empyema, we felt that VATS might be effective in treating posttraumatic empyema and began using this technique several years ago. The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of VATS as an alternative to open thoracotomy for the treatment of posttraumatic empyema.…”