Comparison between irrigation and conventional treatment for empyema and pneumonectomy space infection.

Abstract

A new method of treating pleural empyema or pneumonectomy space infection by irrigation was evaluated in 11 patients. The infected cavities were filled with an antibiotic or antiseptic solution for 3 h and allowed to drain for 1 h. This cycle was repeated every 4 h for 7-10 days. When cultures of the infected cavity became sterile, the irrigation tube was removed and the wound sealed. Using this method, infection was eradicated after an average of 11 days in 5 of 6 patients with pleural empyema and in all 5 patients treated for an infected pneumonectomy space, including 1 with a bronchopleural fistula. The results of treating 58 similar cases of intrapleural sepsis over a 10 yr period by the standard methods of aspiration, open drainage, decortication or thoracoplasty were compared to the results of irrigation. In general cyclical irrigation resulted in a shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of wound drainage than other methods.