View clinical trials related to Empyema.
Filter by:The American Association of Thoracic Surgery defines empyema as pus in the pleural space. It is a common thoracic surgery presentation with an estimated 65,000 cases occurring annually in the United States. Despite the high prevalence of empyemas, there has been no consensus as to its optimal first line management. Methods of acceptable treatment currently include chest tube insertion (thoracostomy), thoracostomy with fibrinolytics, decortication via a thoracotomy (removal of fibrous peel on the lung) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) decortication. The investigators aim to determine the rate of re-intervention within thirty days for adults presenting with empyema in the fibrinopurulent phase by comparing the initial treatments of Interventional Radiology (IR) guided chest tube insertion with intrapleural fibrinolytics (as per Multi-Institutional Sepsis 2 Trial; MIST 2 Trial) versus VATS decortication. Currently, either of these treatments is considered first-line depending on the surgeon and institutional preference.
This study aims to standardize the treatment of pleural space (parapneumonic) infections by comparing the difference in outcomes between 2 methods of treatment: early VATS (Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery) decortication versus fibrinolytic therapy. During treatment, the patient's coagulopathy status will also be evaluated.
The purpose of this prospective randomized clinical trial is to compare two currently accepted standard-of-care treatment strategies: Medical thoracoscopy as compared to instillation of intrapleural tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) and human recombinant Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) for the management of empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE) in adults.
Traumatic hemothorax and hemopneumothorax are common diagnoses which are typically treated by placement of a chest tube. 28-32 Fr chest tubes have previously been shown equivalent to 36-40 Fr chest tubes for the non-emergent drainage of hemothorax. A smaller study has found 14 Fr pigtails had less pain than larger tubes but was not powered to compare outcomes. We seek to perform a prospective randomized trial that is adequately powered comparing efficacy of 14 Fr thal tubes to 28 Fr chest tubes for non-emergent drainage of hemothorax and hemopneumothorax. Additionally, we will employ maximal barrier precautions for all chest tube insertions and compare empyema rates to our historical controls.
Breathing movements, called chest wall motion, are very complex. The investigators are studying how movement of the abdomen, ribs and diaphragm contribute to breathing and how this differs with different diseases in the chest. Breathing movements may help with diagnosis, assessment of severity or assessing the impact of treatments for chest conditions. The investigators are following people who have a chest disease, measuring their chest wall motion and comparing it to their diagnosis and and how their treatment works. Chest wall motion can be measured in different ways at rest and whilst exercising. Small stickers on the chest can be used to reflect infra red light or visible squares of light can be shone onto the chest without using stickers.
This is a prospective study to assess the efficacy and safety of a single dose of cefazolin 2g IV for the prophylaxis of surgical site and pleural space infections in patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy.
Despite the improvement in the technology available for diagnosing and treating empyema, the management of empyema in children remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of two common technical approach used for pleural effusion drainage in the treatment of childhood empyema.
This is a prospective, randomized study comparing VATS( Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy ) to reinsertion of a Thoracostomy Tube in patients with retained haemothorax. The hypothesis is that early VATS as opposed to reinsertion of a thoracostomy tube , will lead to less complications and shorter hospital stay.
The objective of this study is to scientifically evaluate a new substrate for fibrinolysis compared to our standard tPA. The hypothesis, driven by a recent prospective trial, is that tPA may benefit from the addition of DNAse. The primary outcome variable between the two techniques will be length of hospitalization after initiation of treatment.
Bacterial pneumonia can be complicated by the development of excess fluid and pus (pleural empyema) around the lungs in children. The incidence of pleural empyema in children has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Short term morbidity for this condition is substantial, but unlike in adults, the long term outcome of this condition for children in developed countries is favourable. Inserting a chest drain and then adding a medicine (tissue plasminogen activator - tPA) to break down organized pus has been shown to be an effective therapy for reducing the duration of illness. However, this treatment is still suboptimal and prolonged hospitalization is common. Recent data from adults suggests that adding an additional medicine (DNase) to decrease the viscosity (thickness) of the fluid improves drainage and leads to better patient outcomes; however, there are no published studies on children. This is a multi-centre randomized controlled trial comparing the time to discharge from hospital after chest drain insertion in previously well children who present with pleural empyema, treated with intrapleural DNase and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) by chest drain for three doses over 48 hours compared with three doses over 48 hours of tPA alone. Other outcomes related to effectiveness, safety and cost will be assessed as well.