Bilateral empyema thoracis treated by staged thoracotomies.

Pleural effusion is a common finding following pneumonia. It can become infected with accumulation of pus, forming empyema thoracis (ET), which is frequently encountered in childhood. Proper drainage and broadspectrum antibiotics are the mainstays of treatment. However, operative intervention is another mode of therapy in later stages of the condition. Election of either mode of therapy is a controversial issue, and depends largely on the discipline of the treating clinician. We report a case of bilateral ET treated by operative intervention, and review the current modes of therapy in the literature.