1. Video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization for exacerbation of chronic empyema thoracis.
- Author
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Suzuki, Takashi, Kitami, Akihiko, Suzuki, Shuichi, Kamio, Yoshito, Narushima, Michiaki, Suzuki, Hajime, Suzuki, T, Kitami, A, Suzuki, S, Kamio, Y, Narushima, M, and Suzuki, H
- Subjects
EMPYEMA ,THORACOSCOPY ,THORACIC surgery ,CHRONIC diseases ,COMPARATIVE studies ,COMPUTED tomography ,ENDOSCOPIC surgery ,LONGITUDINAL method ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL cooperation ,RESEARCH ,EVALUATION research ,DISEASE progression - Abstract
Study Objective: To investigate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization to treat patients with exacerbation of chronic empyema thoracis.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 bronchopleural fistulas.Interventions: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sterilization of the thoracic cavity.Measurements and Results: There was no recurrence of empyema during a 6-year 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 invasive useful treatment for elderly or debilitated patients with exacerbation of chronic empyema thoracis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2001
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