Item type: | Article | ||||
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Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | ||||
Publisher: | BIOMED CENTRAL LTD | ||||
Place of Publication: | LONDON | ||||
Volume: | 11 | ||||
Number of Issue or Book Chapter: | 1 | ||||
Date: | 2016 | ||||
Institutions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Herz-, Thorax- und herznahe Gefäßchirurgie Medicine > Abteilung für Thoraxchirurgie Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Zentrum für Klinische Studien | ||||
Identification Number: |
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Keywords: | OPEN-WINDOW THORACOSTOMY; ASSISTED CLOSURE THERAPY; PLEURAL EMPYEMA; LUNG RESECTION; INSTILLATION; Negative pressure wound therapy; VAC; Vacuum-assisted closure; Intrapleural; Intrathoracic; Empyema | ||||
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine | ||||
Status: | Published | ||||
Refereed: | Yes, this version has been refereed | ||||
Created at the University of Regensburg: | Yes | ||||
Item ID: | 42904 |

Abstract
Background: This retrospective study analyzed the effectiveness of intrathoracic negative pressure therapy for debilitated patients with empyema and compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of three different intrapleural vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) techniques. Methods: We investigated 43 consecutive (pre) septic patients with poor general condition (Karnofsky index <= 50 %) and ...

Abstract
Background: This retrospective study analyzed the effectiveness of intrathoracic negative pressure therapy for debilitated patients with empyema and compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of three different intrapleural vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) techniques. Methods: We investigated 43 consecutive (pre) septic patients with poor general condition (Karnofsky index <= 50 %) and multimorbidity (>= 3 organ diseases) or immunosuppression, who had been treated for primary, postoperative, or recurrent pleural empyema with VAC in combination with open window thoracostomy (OWT-VAC) with minimally invasive technique (Mini-VAC), and instillation (Mini-VAC-Instill). Results: The overall duration of intrathoracic vacuum therapy was 14 days (5-48 days). Vacuum duration in the Mini-VAC and Mini-VAC-Instill groups (12.4 +/- 5.7 and 10.4 +/- 5.4 days) was significantly shorter (p = 0.001) than in the group treated with open window thoracostomy (OWT)-VAC (20.3 +/- 9.4 days). No major complication was related to intrathoracic VAC therapy. Chest wall closure rates were significantly higher in the Mini-VAC and Mini-VAC-Instill groups than in the OWT-VAC group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.026). Overall, the mean postoperative length of stay in hospital (LOS) was 21 days (median 18, 6-51 days). LOS was significantly shorter (p = 0.027) in the Mini-VAC-Instill group (15.1 +/- 4.8) than in the other two groups (23.8 +/- 12.3 and 22.7 +/- 1.5). Overall, the 30-day and 60-day mortality rates were 4.7 % (2/43) and 9.3 % (4/43), and none of the deaths was related to infection. Conclusions: For debilitated patients, immediate minimally invasive intrathoracic vacuum therapy is a safe and viable alternative to OWT. Mini-VAC-Instill may have the fastest clearance and healing rates of empyema.
Metadata last modified: 17 Mar 2020 12:07