| The Clinical Observations of Empyema Thoracis in Childhood. |
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Young Yull Ko, Kwang Wook Ko |
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Department of Pediarics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University |
| 소아농흉의 임상적 관찰 |
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고영률, 고광욱 |
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서울대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
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| Abstract |
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We made a clinical observation of 36 cases of empyema thoracis at the Pediatric department of S.N.U.H. during the 5 year period from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1984. The results were as follows; 1)The most frequent age group was infancy, which was accounted to 44.4% of all cases. Male to Female sex ratio was about 1 : 1.1, and the highest seasonal incidence was in Spring. 2)The main symptoms were fever, cough, dyspnea and/or tachypnea in order of frequency. Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal distension were prominent in infancy. 3) Hematologic findings on admission revealed hemoglobin level below 12gm%, leukocyte count above 10,000/cum.m, and elevated E.S.R. in most cases. 4)Pleural fluid obtained from patients showed high leukocyte count with neutrophil
predominant, high protein level (mean 3,646mg%), and low glucose level (mean 26.3mg%). 5)Findings from pleural fluid cultures were negative in 12 cases (33.3%), nine of whom had been given antibiotics for an average of five days before admission. The most common causative agent was Staphylococcus aureus (47.2%), which was relatively sensitive to Amikin, Cephalothin, and Gentamycin. 6)The most frequent lesion predisposing to empyema was pneumonia (53.8%), being remarkable in Staphylococcal empyema. 7)There was no significant difference in location of empyema. In only one case (2.8%), both sides were involved. 8)The majority of patients were treated with antibiotics and closed drainage. The remainders (11.2%) needed open drainage or
ecortication. 9)The duratoin and amount of closed drainage were 12 days and 242cc in mean values.
On the average, 72% of pleural fluid was drained within the first three days. |
| Key Words:
Empyema |
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