chronic empyema aetiopathology and management challenges in the developing world慢性积脓症aetiopathology和管理在发展中国家的挑战.pdfVIP

Surgical Science, 2011, 2, 446-450 doi:10.4236/ss.2011.29097 Published Online November 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ss) Chronic Empyema: Aetiopathology and Management Challenges in the Developing World Martins Oluwafemi Thomas1,2*, Ezekiel Olla Ogunleye1,2 1 Lagos University Teaching Hospital , Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria 2College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Surulere, Lagos , Nigeria * E-mail : oluwafemithomas@ Received July 4, 2011; revised September 21, 2011; accepted October 13, 2011 Abstract Objectives: Chronic empyema thoracis (CET) is common worldwide despite widespread use of highly ef- fective antibiotics. Also, newer technological armamentaria are available for its diagnosis and treatment. This research was performed to study the aetiopathological profile and the management challenges of CET in view of the background information stated above. Methods: It is a prospective study spanning a period of 62 months in Lagos, Nigeria. Patients’ bio-data, aetiological factors, salient clinical features, management mo- dalities and complications of care were documented and analysed. We excluded patients who were not fit for surgery and those who could not afford surgery. Patients that were initially registered as chronic empyema patients but who later became positive for malignancy were also excluded. Results: There were 93 patients (61 males and 31 females). Age range was 4 - 72 years but the range 20 - 49 years constituted 71.0% of the studied population. Poorly treated acute chest infections was the aetiological factor in 49.5% of patients. Tu- berculosis was established in 37 patients (39.8%) who were especially in social cl