Management of Parapneumonic Effusions:Current Practice and Controversies

Author: Weinstein, Michael¹

Source: Current Pediatric Reviews, Volume 2, Number 3, August 2006 , pp. 259-263(5)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

The incidence of complicated parapneumonic effusions in children has been increasing over the past decade despite the increasing use of protein-conjugate vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common cause of complicated pneumonia in children in the developed world. Despite the fact that this condition is increasingly common in hospitalized children, the management of this condition remains controversial, in large part due to the small number of prospective, controlled trials evaluating therapies. This review will highlight the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of complicated parapneumonic effusions. The role for intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy and early videoassisted thorascopic surgery in the management of this condition will be emphasized as will the questions that need to be answered with future inquiry.

Keywords: Parapneumonic effusion (PPE); empyema; fibrinolytic therapy; video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.2174/157339606778019729

Affiliations: 1: Division of Pediatric Medicine Hospital for Sick Children & University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5GIX8, Canada.

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