Video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization for exacerbation of chronic empyema thoracis

Study objective: To investigate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopi c sterilization to treat patients with exacerbation of chronic empyema thor acis. Design: Case reports and Literature review. Setting: Academic department of surgery. Patients: Two elderly, debilitated patients with worsening, chronic empyema thoracis as diagnosed by radiographs, CT, and thoracentesis. Both patients had a history of therapeutic pneumothorax for tuberculosis without broncho pleural fistulas. Interventions: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization of the thoracic c avity. Measurements and results: There was no recurrence of empyema during a B-yea r follow-up period for one patient and a 2.5-year follow-up period for the other patient. Conclusions: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization is a minimally inva sive useful treatment for elderly or debilitated patients with exacerbation of chronic empyema thoracis.