Empyema: Difference between revisions

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*Stages
*Stages
*#Exudative - Free-flowing pleural effusion amenable to chest tube drainage; may only last <48hr
*#Exudative - Free-flowing pleural effusion amenable to chest tube drainage; may only last <48hr
*#Fibrinopurulent - Loculations develop making resolution w/ single chest tube drainage unlikely
*#Fibrinopurulent - Loculations develop making resolution with single chest tube drainage unlikely
*#Organizational - Takes several weeks to develop; "pleural peel" restricts lung expansion
*#Organizational - Takes several weeks to develop; "pleural peel" restricts lung expansion
==Presentation==
*Fever
*Shortness of breath
*Anorexia
*Night sweats
*Pleuritic chest pain
*Hemoptysis
*Recent dx and/or treatment of [[Pneumonia]]
*History of penetrating chest trauma or diaphragmatic injury<ref>Barmparas G, DuBose J, Teixeira PG, Recinos G, Inaba K, Plurad D. Risk factors for empyema after diaphragmatic injury: results of a National Trauma Databank analysis. J Trauma. Jun 2009;66(6):1672-6</ref>


===Causes===
===Causes===
*[[Pneumonia]]
*[[Pneumonia]] (most common)
*Complications of [[thoracic trauma|chest]] or [[abdominal trauma]]
*Complications of [[thoracic trauma|chest]] or [[abdominal trauma]]
*[[Esophageal perforation]]
*[[Esophageal perforation]]
*Extension from lung abscess
*Extension from [[lung abscess]]
*[[Osteomyelitis]] or other near pleural infections
*[[Osteomyelitis]] or other near pleural infections
*[[Hemothorax]], [[chylothorax]], or [[hydrothorax]] that becomes infected
*[[Hemothorax]], [[chylothorax]], or [[hydrothorax]] that becomes infected


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Usually preceded by PNA
*[[Fever]]
**Suspect if symptoms of PNA do not resolve
*[[Shortness of breath]]
*Anorexia
*Night sweats
*Pleuritic [[chest pain]]
*[[Hemoptysis]]
*Recent diagnosis and/or treatment for [[Pneumonia]]
*History of penetrating [[chest trauma]] or [[diaphragmatic injury]]<ref>Barmparas G, DuBose J, Teixeira PG, Recinos G, Inaba K, Plurad D. Risk factors for empyema after diaphragmatic injury: results of a National Trauma Databank analysis. J Trauma. Jun 2009;66(6):1672-6</ref>


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
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*[[Tuberculosis]]
*[[Tuberculosis]]
*[[Pleural Effusion]]
*[[Pleural Effusion]]
*[[Wegener's granulomatosis]]
*[[Granulomatosis with polyangiitis]] (wegener's)
*[[Pulmonary embolism]]
*[[Pulmonary embolism]]


==Work Up==
==Evaluation==
===Work Up===
*CBC
*CBC
*CXR
*[[CXR]]
*[[Thoracentesis]]
*[[Thoracentesis]]
*Sputum Culture -- Acid Fast Bacilli (If TB suspected)
*Sputum Culture -- Acid Fast Bacilli (If TB suspected)
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*Blood Cultures
*Blood Cultures


==Diagnosis==
===Evaluation===
*Aspiration of grossly purulent pleural fluid on [[thoracentesis]] and at least 1 of the following:<ref>http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/807499-overview</ref>
*Aspiration of grossly purulent pleural fluid on [[thoracentesis]] and at least 1 of the following:<ref>http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/807499-overview</ref>
**+ Gram stain or culture
**+ Gram stain or culture
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**LDH >1000 IU/mL
**LDH >1000 IU/mL


==Treatment==
==Management==
*Treat underlying disease
*Treat underlying disease
*O2 if [[Hypoxemia]]
*[[O2]] if [[Hypoxemia]]
*Perform [[thoracentesis]] vs. [[chest tube]] if evidence of respiratory distress
*Perform [[thoracentesis]] vs. [[chest tube]] if evidence of respiratory distress
**May need Video-Assisted Thoracic surgery (VATS)
**May need Video-Assisted Thoracic surgery (VATS)
*[[Antibiotics]]
*[[Antibiotics]]
**[[Piperacillin-tazobactam]] 3.375-4.5gm q6hr IV or [[imipenem]] 0.5-1gm q6hr
**[[Piperacillin-tazobactam]] 3.375-4.5gm q6hr IV or [[imipenem]] 0.5-1gm q6hr
**Consider adding [[vancomycin]] if pt at risk for [[MRSA]]
**Consider adding [[vancomycin]] if patient at risk for [[MRSA]]


{{Chest tube size table}}
{{Chest tube size table}}
==Disposition==
*Admit


==See Also==
==See Also==
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:Pulm]]
[[Category:Pulmonary]]

Latest revision as of 22:22, 15 January 2021

Background

  • Pleural space infections with + Gram stain/culture OR parapneumonic effusions without pleural fluid sampling
  • Stages
    1. Exudative - Free-flowing pleural effusion amenable to chest tube drainage; may only last <48hr
    2. Fibrinopurulent - Loculations develop making resolution with single chest tube drainage unlikely
    3. Organizational - Takes several weeks to develop; "pleural peel" restricts lung expansion

Causes

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Work Up

Evaluation

  • Aspiration of grossly purulent pleural fluid on thoracentesis and at least 1 of the following:[2]
    • + Gram stain or culture
    • WBC count > 50,000 cells/µL (or polymorphonuclear leukocyte count of 1,000 IU/dL)
    • Pleural fluid glucose <60
    • pH <7.2
    • LDH >1000 IU/mL

Management

Adult Chest Tube Sizes

Chest Tube Size Type of Patient Underlying Causes
Small (8-14 Fr)
  • Alveolar-pleural fistulae (small air leak)
  • Iatrogenic air
Medium (20-28 Fr)
  • Trauma/bleeding (hemothorax/hemopneumothorax)
  • Bronchial-pleural fistulae (large air leak)
  • Malignant fluid
Large (36-40 Fr)
  • Thick pus

Disposition

  • Admit

See Also

References

  1. Barmparas G, DuBose J, Teixeira PG, Recinos G, Inaba K, Plurad D. Risk factors for empyema after diaphragmatic injury: results of a National Trauma Databank analysis. J Trauma. Jun 2009;66(6):1672-6
  2. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/807499-overview
  3. Inaba Et. al J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 Feb;72(2):422-7.
  4. Advanced Trauma Life Support® Update 2019: Management and Applications for Adults and Special Populations.