Empyema medical therapy

Empyema Microchapters
Patient Information
Overview
Classification Subdural empyema Pleural empyema
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Medical Therapy

Pharmacotherapy

Acute Pharmacotherapies

• Obviously, appropriate antibiotics are indicated in all patients with an underlying infection. Drainage of the pleural space should be considered early, as delay of even a few days is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality.
  • Indications for chest tube drainage include: a pH < 7.0, glucose < 40-50, gross pus, or organisms on Gram’s stain.
    • In borderline cases, reassessment with a repeat tap should be preformed in 12 – 24 hours. If the LDH is increasing, and the pH and glucose are decreasing, a chest tube should be placed immediately.
    • The chest tube should be at least a 28 F (smaller tubes become obstructed with fibrin clot), and left in place until the drainage is clear and yellow, and its volume is < 50 cc/day.
    • Patients will get better within 24 – 48 hours. If they don’t, suspect inadequate drainage due to loculations or inappropriate antibiotics.
  • Thrombolytics (mainly urokinase and streptokinase) have been used to break up loculations and assist drainage.
    • The typical streptokinase (SK) dose is 250,000 units in 30 – 100 cc normal saline solution (NS), and the typical urokinase dose in 100,000 units, also in 30 – 60 cc NS. They are instilled via the chest tube, left in place for 1-4 hours (chest tube clamped), and repeated daily as needed.
      • Two randomized studies comparing SK to chest tube drainage alone have shown an increase in the amount of drainage, however a statistical difference in the resolution of white blood cell (WBC) count and fever, the need for surgical drainage, or the duration of hospitalization has not been demonstrated.
  • More recently, however, VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) has been compared to treatment by treatment with SK and chest tube drainage (SK-CT) in randomized trials.
    • Wait et.al. studied 20 patients and found that VATS was associated with a significantly higher primary treatment success (91% vs. 44%), lower chest tube duration (6 days vs. 10 days) and a lower number of hospital days (9 vs. 13). VATS was also associated with a non-significant trend towards lower hospital costs.
      • They felt that SK-CT only delayed, and did not prevent definitive treatment with VATS.
      • It should be noted, however, that the patients in Wait’s study had fibrinopurulent empyema, and not simple parapneumonic effusions or chronic empyema.
  • Obviously, the definitive answer is still out on the optimal management of empyema, however, the above data may indicate a more aggressive approach in these patients.