This study prospectively evaluates clinical course of pyogenic empyema thoracis in 25 children (2 mo to 12 y) treated with injectable antibiotics and chest tube drainage, and followed for 6 weeks. The median (range) age at presentation was 3 y (4 mo to 11 y). The pleural fluid culture was positive in 24% of patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated organism. The median (ran...

OBJECTIVES Prolonged postoperative air leaks (AL) are a major cause of morbidity. Aim of this work was evaluating use of a Lung Sealant System (Pleuraseal, Covidien, Mansfield, MA, U.S.A.) in pleural decortications for empyema thoracis. METHODS From January 2008 to December 2008, 46 consecutive patients received pleural decortications for empyema thoracis. Post-procedural and malignancy-relat...