Bilateral empyema treated by sequential pleuroscopy

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2016 Jun 22;81(1-2):735. doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2015.735.

Abstract

Bilateral empyema associated to infectious pericarditis is an extremely rare, yet life-threatening condition. Pleuroscopy-medical thoracoscopy has proved its efficacy in series of patients with empyema. Yet, all reported cases treated by this technique, concerned patients with pleural infection located to a single hemithorax. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with bilateral empyema treated successfully by sequential pleuroscopy, associated to infectious pericarditis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Empyema, Pleural / complications
  • Empyema, Pleural / diagnostic imaging
  • Empyema, Pleural / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pericarditis / complications*
  • Thoracoscopy / methods*