Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate pulmonary function tests after treatment in children with empyema, and to compare the use of thoracic tube drainage only versus primary thoracic drainage plus decortication. Twenty consecutive children with empyema older than 5 years included into the study. They were treated with chest tube drainage only(chest tube group, n=10) or with decortication following chest tube drainage (decortication group, n=10), and additionally eight healthy subjects were enrolled in the study (control group). The groups were similar in age, gender, height and weight. Patients and control subjects were prospectively evaluated with regard to forced vital capacity [FVC (% predicted)], forced expiratory volume during the first second [FEV1 (% predicted)], FEV1/FVC (% predicted), peak flow rate in liters per minute during forced expiration [PEF (% predicted)], maximal mid-expiratory flow rate [MEF25-75% (% predicted)] values obtained by a computerized spirometer. Mean follow-up was 28 months (range 6-33 months). Mean dekortikasspirometric values in control, thoracic drainage and decortication groups were 63%, 62% and 55% for FVC; 85%, 72% and 77% for FEV1; 114%, 112% and 109% for FEV1/FVC; 65%, 64% and 50% for PEF; 90%, 84% and 72% for MEF25-75%, respectively. No significant difference was found between the three groups. Pulmonary function tests by spirometry revealed no significant difference in children with empyema after conventional treatment with as thoracic drainage and use of antibiotics, or lung decortication when compared with healthy children.