Outcomes of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgical Decortication in 274 Patients with Tuberculous Empyema

Risk factors and prognostic predictors of recurrent bacterial empyema in patients after surgical treatment

BACKGROUND

Thoracic empyema is a severe infection with significant morbidity and mortality. Recurrence remains a challenge, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. This study investigated the incidence and prognostic factors of empyema recurrence to enhance management strategies.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1,000 patients over 18 years old with stage II or III thoracic empyema who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) decortication between 2011 and 2022 at Changhua Christian Hospital in Taiwan. We excluded patients who had non-bacterial empyema. We also excluded those who experienced contralateral or same-admission recurrences. Clinical data were analyzed to identify factors associated with recurrence and outcomes.

RESULTS

Empyema recurred in 46 patients (4.6%), with a median recurrence time of 37.5 days. The recurrent group had higher rates of diabetes mellitus (47.8% vs. 31.7%, p = 0.022), stage III empyema (32.6% vs. 20.1%, p = 0.041), and pleural glucose levels ≤ 40 mg/dL (52.4% vs. 36.9%, p = 0.043). Streptococcus species infections were more prevalent among recurrent cases (p = 0.029). Delays from diagnosis to operation were longer in the recurrent group (10.46 ± 23.46 days). Recurrent patients experienced extended postoperative antibiotic use and longer intensive care unit stays and hospital admissions. Overall survival was significantly lower in the recurrent group during long-term follow-up (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Empyema recurrence after VATS decortication worsens outcomes. Key risk factors include diabetes mellitus, low pleural glucose levels, Streptococcus infection, and delayed surgery. Early diagnosis, prompt surgical intervention, and careful management of comorbidities may be beneficial to reduce recurrence and improve patient outcomes.

Guidelines for the treatment of empyema (The Japanese Association for Chest Surgery)

This article translates the guidelines for the treatment of empyema established by the Japanese Association of Chest Surgery in 2023 from Japanese to English. These guidelines were developed by the Working Group on Guidelines for the Treatment of Empyema of our society, involving the establishment of clinical questions, conducting systematic reviews in accordance with the MINDS (Medical Information Distribution Service) Manual for Guideline Development 2020 version 3.0 and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system, and determining the levels of recommendations. Furthermore, external evaluators provided assessments. Subsequently, the guidelines were finalized after receiving public comments from the members of the society. Even in the current era of advanced antibiotic therapy, empyema remains difficult to treat. However, the specific guideline for the treatment of empyema lacks in our country. Each institution is conducting clinical practices in its own way. Therefore, aiming to standardize the treatment of empyema, we have developed a practice guideline of empyema treatment. The pathophysiology of empyema is diverse, so empyema is classified into acute, chronic, and postoperative empyema. The recommended surgical treatment for each type of empyema is described, being categorized by the strength of recommendation, strength of evidence, and consensus rate.

The tuberculous pleural effusion

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is a common entity with similar epidemiological characteristics to pulmonary TB. It represents a spectrum of disease that can variably self-resolve or progress to TB empyema with severe sequelae such as chronic fibrothorax or empyema necessitans. Coexistence of and progression to pulmonary TB is high. Diagnosis is challenging, as pleural TB is paucibacillary in most cases, but every effort should be made to obtain microbiological diagnosis, especially where drug resistance is suspected. Much attention has been focussed on adjunctive investigations to support diagnosis, but clinicians must be aware that apparent diagnostic accuracy is affected both by the underlying TB prevalence in the population, and by the diagnostic standard against which the specified investigation is being evaluated. Pharmacological treatment of pleural TB is similar to that of pulmonary TB, but penetration of the pleural space may be suboptimal in complicated effusions. Evidence for routine drainage is limited, but evacuation of the pleural space is indicated in complicated disease.

Educational aims

To demonstrate that pleural TB incorporates a wide spectrum of disease, ranging from self-resolving lymphocytic effusions to severe TB empyema with serious sequelae.To emphasise the high coexistence of pulmonary TB with pleural TB, and the importance of obtaining sputum for culture (induced if necessary) in all cases.To explore the significant diagnostic challenges posed by pleural TB, and consequently the frequent lack of information about drug sensitivity prior to initiating treatment.To highlight the influence of underlying TB prevalence in the population on the diagnostic accuracy of adjunctive investigations for the diagnosis of pleural TB.To discuss concerns around penetration of anti-TB medications into the pleural space and how this can influence decisions around treatment duration in practice.

The safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant tuberculous empyema

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant tuberculous empyema (TE).

METHODS

We analysed all patients with stage III TE who underwent decortication between March 2015 and October 2019 at Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to drug-susceptibility testing of bronchoscopy lavage fluid, pleural effusion and tissue specimens, including a drug-resistant group and a drug-sensitive group. We collected and compared the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data from the 2 groups to evaluate the safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant TE.

RESULTS

In total, 135 cases met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled, including 30 cases in the drug-resistant group and 105 cases in the drug-sensitive group. No deaths were recorded for the entire study population. Compared to the drug-sensitive group, the drug-resistant group had longer operation times (259.8 ± 78.4 min vs 187.2 ± 56.0 min, P = 0.00), a larger volume of intraoperative blood loss [300 (200,400) ml vs 200 (130, 300) ml, P = 0.00] and a higher intraoperative transfusion rate (5/30, 16.7% vs 4/105, 3.8%, P = 0.04). The rate of complications was significantly higher in the drug-resistant group (23; 76.7%) than in the drug-sensitive group (53; 50.5%) (P = 0.01). Recurrence was not reported in any of the patients. Twenty-three (76.7%) patients in the drug-resistant group and 90 (85.7%) patients in the drug-sensitive group recovered to an "excellent" level, and 3 cases in each group recovered to a "poor" level; there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in surgical effects (P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Decortication is a safe, effective and feasible option for patients with stage III drug-resistant TE, although the operation is difficult and risky.

Efficacy of Percutaneous Direct Puncture Biopsy of Malignant Lung Tumors Contacting to the Pleura

BACKGROUND/AIM

This is a retrospective evaluation of whether percutaneous direct puncture biopsy of lung lesions contacting to the pleura is justified.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between August 2016 and July 2021, 163 consecutive patients (100 males, 63 females with a median age of 73 years) who had malignant lung tumors measuring 0.6-12.4 cm (median, 2.9 cm) that contacted to the pleura and underwent percutaneous lung biopsy under computed tomography fluoroscopic guidance using an 18-gauge end-cut needle were examined. The trajectory was direct puncture in 80 patients (49.1%, 80/163), and trans-lung in 83 patients (50.9%, 83/163). Diagnostic yield and major adverse event rates of direct and trans-lung puncture biopsies were compared.

RESULTS

No difference was found in diagnostic yield between direct puncture and trans-lung biopsies (93.8% vs. 98.8%, p=0.11). Major adverse events were major pneumothorax (n=13/163, 8.0%), pleural dissemination (n=18/163, 11.0%), and hemothorax requiring arterial embolization (n=1/163, 1.0%). Direct puncture caused major pneumothorax significantly less than trans-lung puncture did (0%, 0/80 vs. 15.7%, 13/83, p<0.001). No significant difference was found between the two biopsy methods regarding the incidence of pleural dissemination (11.0%, 11/80 vs. 8.4%, 7/83, p=0.32).

CONCLUSION

Direct puncture biopsy of malignant lung tumors contacting to the pleura is justified.

Open decortication for patients presenting with stage III tuberculous empyema with low density lines on CT imaging

To explore the influence of CT findings on the optimal timing of open decorticationin patients with stage III tuberculous empyema. A total of 80 patients with stage III tuberculous empyema who had undergone open decortications were recruited; 44 patients had chest CT findings indicating low-density lines, while 36 patients did not show this imaging finding. Demographic data, perioperative data and preoperative and postoperative chest CT images were collected. In the low-density line group, the duration of disease (P = 0.0030) and the preoperative anti-tuberculosis time (P = 0.0016) were longer than those of the group without low-density lines, and the ESR (P = 0.0218), CRP (P = 0.0027) and leukocyte count (P = 0.0339) were lower in the low-density line group. Additionally, in the median operative time (P = 0.0003), intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.0001), volume of catheter drainage during 48 h after operation (P = 0.0067), chest tube duration (P < 0.0001), and length of hospital stay (P = 0.0154) were significantly lower in the low-density line group than in the group without low-density lines. A total of 88.64% of participants in the low-density line group showed hyperplasia with hyaline degeneration in pathological examination, which was observed only in 41.67% of patients without low-density lines. In addition, gaseous necrosis was considerably higher in patients without a low-density line (P = 0.004), while the low-density line group had a higher rate of treatment success (P < 0.05). Patients with stage III tuberculous empyema presenting with low-density lines around the thickened fibrous pleural rind on preoperative CT imaging may be good candidates for open decortication.

The efficacy and safety of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery on the treatment for stage II-III tuberculous empyema: a single-arm clinical retrospective study from 2016 to 2021 in a thoracic surgery center in China

Background

Surgery is an important adjuvant treatment for tuberculous empyema(TE). We thus conducted a single arm-clinical retrospective study of stage II-III TE patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (Uni-VATS) over a 5-year period to evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgery on TE, so as to provide the evidence for the optimal clinical strategies.

Methods

Patients diagnosed as TE with withdrawal of anti-tuberculosis-VATS were retrospectively enrolled from January 2016 to December 2021. All patients were followed up untill 12 months after withdrawal of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). Clinical characteristics and surgical details were observed and analyzed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the minimally invasive surgery.

Results

Totally 439 cases met included criteria were enrolled, no deaths were reported. The mean operative time was 2.6 (1.9, 4.3) hours and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 356 (240, 940) ml. Blood transfusion was performed in 20.50% (90/439) of patients and additional pneumonectomy was occurred in 9.89%(37/439)of patients .The mean postoperative drainage time was 12 (7, 49) days and the mean hospital stay was 6 (4,12) days. All stage II TE achieved complete lung re-expansion after surgery while 84.22%(315/374) of stage III achieved complete lung re-expansion, p 0.00. 15.78% (59/374) of stage III TE achieved incomplete re-expansion, 4 of which underwent a second decortication by Uni-VATS. Recurrences rate was 2.96% (13/439), including 11 cases of early recurrence and 2 cases of late recurrence at TE stage III, 5 of which underwent a second decortication by Uni-VATS.

Conclusion

Uni-VATS is highly effective safe and minimally invasive for patients with TE, which could be recommended as the mainstream operation in areas with high TB burden.

Performance of TB-LAMP in the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Empyema Using Samples Obtained From Pleural Decortication

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of TB-LAMP in the diagnosis of TB empyema using pleural tissue specimens obtained during pleural decortication.

Methods

Using the clinical records and the different diagnostic test results of patients who underwent pleural decortication in a TB-designated hospital over 3.5 years, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity positive predictive, and negative predictive values of the pathology, MGIT 960 culture, and TB-LAMP obtained by using pleural tissue specimens against the etiologic diagnosis and composite clinical reference standard (CCRS) as the reference standards.

Result

A total of 304 patients' records were extracted. All these patients had gone through pleural decortication. When the etiologic diagnosis was used as the reference, the sensitivity of TB-LAMP in identifying TB empyema was 77.8% (compared to 10.6% of MGIT 960 P < 0.05). The sensitivity of MGIT 960, pathology, and TB-LAMP was 8.2%, 77.7%, and 67.2% against CCRS as the reference; and the specificity of the three was 100.0, 100.0, and 96.2% against the same standard. A combination of pathology and TB-LAMP would increase the sensitivity and specificity to 84.7 and 96.0%. Using TB-LAMP to diagnose TB empyema using pleural tissue samples obtained from pleural decortication was faster with satisfactory performance.

Conclusion

TB-LAMP has great potential in faster and more accurate diagnosis of TB empyema. Our findings provide insights for optimizing diagnostic algorithms for TB empyema.

Pleural Tuberculosis

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is common and often follows a benign course but may result in serious long-term morbidity. Diagnosis is challenging because of the paucibacillary nature of the condition. Advances in Mycobacterium culture media and PCR-based techniques have increased the yield from mycobacteriologic tests. Surrogate biomarkers perform well in diagnostic accuracy studies but must be interpreted in the context of the pretest probability in the individual patient. Confirming the diagnosis often requires biopsy, which may be acquired through thoracoscopy or image-guided closed pleural biopsy. Treatment is standard anti-TB therapy, with optional drainage and intrapleural fibrinolytics or surgery in complicated cases.

Comparison of outcome of surgery for tubercular and nontubercular empyema: An analysis of 285 consecutive cases

Background

Few studies have compared the surgical outcomes between tubercular empyema (TE) and nontubercular empyema (NTE), which were limited by a small sample size. We conducted this study with the objective of comparing the surgical outcomes of patients with tuberculous and nontuberculous empyema.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 285 consecutively operated cases of TE and NTE over 5 years conducted in a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India. A comparative analysis of demography, intraoperative, and postoperative variables including mortality between the two groups was carried out.

Results

Out of 285 patients, 166 were tubercular and 119 were nontubercular. Nontubercular group had significantly higher age (45.4 ± 17.2 vs. 31.2 ± 13.6 in years), more comorbidities. Procedure was started by thoracotomy in 25.9% of tubercular group and 41.1% of nontubercular group. In patients where procedure started by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), complete decortication could be achieved by VATS in 91.1% of TE patients, whereas it was possible in 77.2% of nontubercular group. Need for postoperative ventilation (10% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.0011) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (25.2% vs. 3%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher in nontubercular group. Nontubercular group was found to have significantly higher number of complications (13.4% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.02) and postoperative mortality (10% vs. 0, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Higher percentage of TE cases were managed by VATS with reduced operative time, less blood loss, and lower conversions. Need for postoperative ventilation, ICU stay, and complications including mortality were more in NTE.

Does an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol affect perioperative surgical outcomes in stage III tubercular empyema? A comparative analysis of 243 patients

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in tuberculous empyema surgery have the potential for improved outcomes, but have not been studied widely. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes after implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients undergoing surgery for tubercular empyema.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for tuberculous empyema in a dedicated thoracic surgery center from March 2012 to March 2019 was performed. The control group included patients operated on between March 2012 and March 2016. The enhanced recovery after surgery protocol was strictly introduced into our practice from April 2016. The study group included patients operated on between April 2016 and March 2019. All perioperative outcomes were measured, documented, analyzed, and compared between the two groups. There were 166 patients in the control group and 77 in the study group.

RESULTS

Intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0001), prolonged air leak (p = 0.04), chest tube duration (p = 0.005), and length of stay (p = 0.003) were significantly reduced in the study group. Overall rates of postoperative complications (p = 0.04) including wound infection (p = 0.01) were also significantly lower in the study group.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients undergoing surgery for tuberculous empyema is feasible and effective. Application of such a protocol leads to less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stay and duration of chest drainage, and fewer complications. Application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols are strongly recommended in tubercular empyema surgery.

Tuberculous pleural effusion

Tuberculous effusion is a common disease entity with a spectrum of presentations from a largely benign effusion, which resolves completely, to a complicated effusion with loculations, pleural thickening and even frank empyema, all of which may have a lasting effect on lung function. The pathogenesis is a combination of true pleural infection and an effusive hypersensitivity reaction, compartmentalized within the pleural space. Diagnostic thoracentesis with thorough pleural fluid analysis including biomarkers such as adenosine deaminase and gamma interferon achieves high accuracy in the correct clinical context. Definitive diagnosis may require invasive procedures to demonstrate histological evidence of caseating granulomas or microbiological evidence of the organism on smear or culture. Drug resistance is an emerging problem that requires vigilance and extra effort to acquire a complete drug sensitivity profile for each tuberculous effusion treated. Nucleic acid amplification tests such as Xpert MTB/RIF can be invaluable in this instance; however, the yield is low in pleural fluid. Treatment consists of standard anti-tuberculous therapy or a guideline-based individualized regimen in the case of drug resistance. There is low-quality evidence that suggests possible benefit from corticosteroids; however, they are not currently recommended due to concomitant increased risk of adverse effects. Small studies report some short- and long-term benefit from interventions such as therapeutic thoracentesis, intrapleural fibrinolytics and surgery but many questions remain to be answered.

Clinical Outcome and Risk Factors for Emergency Department Adult Patients with Thoracic Empyema after Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgical Procedure

Background: Empyema is a purulent infection of the pleural cavity that is most relevant to parapneumonia effusion. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an option for stage 2 (fibrinopurulent) and stage 3 (organizational). Surgeons may see critically ill patients with pleural empyema who present to the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this work is to investigate the outcomes of ED adult patients with thoracic empyema undergoing a thoracoscopic surgical procedure and to identify possible risk factors for death. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with thoracic empyema who received this diagnosis at our center from January 2012 to June 2014. Patients <20 years old were excluded from this study. The prognostic values of age, sex, comorbidities, clinical presentations, location, stage, and laboratory examinations were evaluated. Uni-variable analysis and multi-variable modeling were performed to determine significant risk factors for post-operative death. Results: Seventeen of 160 patients died post-operatively. Two groups (survivors and non-survivors) significantly differed in age (p = 0.013), sex (p = 0.026), comorbidity (p = 0.017), cough (p = 0.024), chest pain (p = 0.016), serum hemoglobin (p = 0.001), and potassium (p = 0.004) levels. Further logistic regression analysis showed statistically significant differences in age, hemoglobin levels, and potassium levels. Conclusion: Among the ED patients with thoracic empyema, older age, lower hemoglobin levels, and higher potassium levels are associated with post-operative death after VATS. These findings underline the importance of careful peri-operative treatment in older patients with signs of empyema when they present to the ED.

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery for empyema

The widely accepted and still increasing use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in pleuro-pulmonary pathology imposes the need to deal with two major pitfalls: the first is to avoid its unselective use, while the second relates to inappropriate rejection of VATS on the basis of "insufficient radicality". Unlike a quite established role of VATS in lung cancer patients, in patients with pleural empyema, the role of VATS is less clearly defined. The current evidence about VATS in patients with pleural empyema could be summarised as follows: VATS is accepted as a useful treatment option for fibrinopurulent empyema, but the treatment failure rate increases with the increasing proportion of stage III empyema, necessitating further surgical options like thoracotomy and decortication. As both pulmonologists and surgeons deal with diagnosis and treatment of pleural empyema, this article is an attempt to highlight the existing evidence in a more user-friendly way in order to help practising physicians to optimise the use of VATS in these patients. In other words, in the absence of randomised studies comparing VATS and thoracotomy, the key question to be answered is: are there any pre-operative findings that can be used to select patients for initial VATS versus proceeding directly to a thoracotomy?

Thoracoscopic Decortication of Stage III Tuberculous Empyema Is Effective and Safe in Selected Cases

BACKGROUND

Open decortication of advanced tuberculous empyema remains standard of care. As with other aspects of thoracic surgery, minimally invasive approaches are making inroads into procedures traditionally performed open. In this retrospective analysis, we sought to examine feasibility, efficacy, and outcomes of thoracoscopic decortication of stage III tuberculous empyema in our experience.

METHODS

The records of all patients in whom thoracoscopic decortication of stage III tuberculous empyema was performed between March 2012 and December 2015 were examined. Demographic and perioperative data were analyzed to assess the surgical outcomes of this study group. To assess long-term efficacy, patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months.

RESULTS

One hundred patients fit the study criteria, of these 67 were men. Ninety cases were successfully completed thoracoscopically. Mean operative time was 204 ± 34.2 minutes with mean blood loss of 384 ± 28 mL. Median chest drain duration and hospital stay was 7 days. There was no perioperative deaths. Morbidity rate was 33%, composed mostly of prolonged air leak (29%). Six-month follow-up revealed completely expanded lung in all patients except one with small apical asymptomatic air space. Intraoperative cultures were positive for mycobacteria in 25% patients. Six (6%) of these patients had multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and required a modification in their antituberculous therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopic decortication of advanced tuberculous empyema is feasible, safe, and effective with good short- and long-term results in selected patients. In a substantial portion of patients, operative cultures required modifying drug treatment to treat underlying tuberculosis.

Outcomes after implementing the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for patients undergoing tuberculous empyema operations

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols provide recommendations for care in various surgical fields. However, there is scarce information on the application of these protocols in tuberculous empyema surgery. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the outcomes of ERAS recommendations for patients who received tuberculous empyema surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent tuberculous empyema surgery in our hospital from March 2011 to March 2016. The patients were divided into an ERAS group and a conventional control group. The main outcome measure was the postoperative median length of stay (including readmissions). Principles related to ERAS were documented, and the postoperative median hospital stay was analyzed statistically between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 92 patients underwent 93 consecutive tuberculous empyema surgical treatments. The postoperative fasting time, chest tube duration, and length of stay were shorter in the ERAS group compared with the control group. The volume of chest tube drainage in the ERAS group was significantly smaller than that of the control group. No statistical differences were observed in the postoperative complications and reasons for readmission between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of ERAS recommendations in patients receiving tuberculous empyema operations decreased the length of stay and chest tube drainage compared to the control group.