Surgical Management of Empyema (original) (raw)

Richard Thurer

1998, Clinics in Chest Medicine

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12 pages

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The sterile pleural space can be invaded by organisms originating in extrathoracic and intrathoracic sites, leading to the development of a pyogenic collection referred to as empyema. From ancient times to the middle of this century, most empyemas were the result of pneumonic, traumatic, or tuberculous processes. With thoracotomy becoming a commonly performed procedure, postsurgical empyema now constitutes 20% of all cases.