%0 Journal Article
%T Decade Experience in Pleurectomy and Lung Decortications for Chronic Empyema Thoracis
%A Nwafor Ikechukwu Andrew
%A Ogbudu Stephen
%A Eze John Chukwuemeka
%A Ezemba Ndubueze
%J World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery
%P 165-174
%@ 2164-3210
%D 2018
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/wjcs.2018.810016
%X <strong>Background:</strong> Chronic empyema thoracis is a debilitating illness with high morbidity and mortality, and is seen among all age groups in Nigeria. <strong>Objective:</strong> To review all cases of chronic empyema thoracis treated by pleurectomy and lung decortication and highlight the indications, challenges and the outcome. <strong>Materials and Method:</strong> In a 10-year period spanning 2007-2016, 90 patients with chronic empyema thoracis were admitted and managed in our institution. A retrospective study of 36 patients who underwent surgery was performed. <strong>Results:</strong> Ten patients (27.80%) out of 36 patients had unsuccessful one month closed chest tube drainage (CTTD). Six patients (16.67%) were referred from peripheral hospitals as chronic empyema thoracis that had failed CTTD. The remainder, 20 (55.60%) were diagnosed as chronic empyema thoracis <em>de novo</em>. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Chronic empyema thoracis is a very difficult disease to manage especially in developing countries like ours, where patients present very late and the requisite facilities are inadequate.
%K Emyema
%K Developing
%K Decade
%K Pleurectomy
%K Decortication
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=88022