SURGERY FOR THORACIC EMPYEMA CONCURRENT WITH RUPTURE OF LUNG ABSCESSES IN A CHILD

The authors report surgical treatment for thoracic empyema concurrent with rupture of lung abscesses and completely collapsed lung in a chil d. Right middle lobectomy for ruptured abscess, debridement and closur e with interrupted sutures for another abscess in the lower lobe, and decortication were performed. Positive-pressure ventilation was needed to prevent reexpansion pulmonary edema because of long-term collapsed lobes. The patient is doing well with no recurrent empyema or thoraci c deformity at 3 years postoperation. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saund ers Company.