Evaluation of the role of Video - Assisted Thoracoscopy in Management of Empyema

Abstract

This study was a prospective comparative randomized study conducted on 60 patients with confirmed parapneumonic effusion in fibrinopurulent stage , after which the 60 patients were classified into two groups: Blind thoracostomy Group: 30 patients who have undergone blind thoracostomy And VATS Group : Another 30 patients who undergone video-assisted thoracoscopy. Patients were randomized to be allocated in the previous two groups to receive either of 2 treatment modalities . The mean age in VATS group was (46.36±12.93) and the mean age in Blind thoracostomy group was (44.86±14.55) with about 66% to 70% of the patients were males in both groups with smoking index 42 pack/year in Blind group and 38 pack/year in VATS group. The preoperative assessment was done by clinical examination, CXR, CT chest and chest ultrasonography where ultrasound was used for staging of parapneumonic effusion and the sensitivity of chest ultrasonography increases with the increase in pathological staging