Clinical practice: treatment of childhood empyema

The incidence of empyema in children is increasing. Adequate knowledge of treatment modalities is therefore essential for every pediatrician. At the university hospital of Leuven, the incidence per 100,000 admissions increased from 40 in 1993 to 120 in 2005. The treatment of choice, however, is still a matter of debate. This is mainly due to the scarcity of prospective randomized trials in children but is further complicated by the absence of uniform terminology. This review starts with clarifying definitions of empyema and complicated versus noncomplicated parapneumonic effusion. The place of different imaging techniques—ultrasound, chest X-ray, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging—is illustrated. All treatment steps are evaluated starting with antibiotic choices, duration of i.v. and oral antibiotics, pleural fluid analysis, indications for chest drain placement, and fibrinolysis. As to the surgical interventions, there is at present insufficient evidence that early surgery is superior to noninvasive medical treatment. Therefore, video-assisted thoracoscopy cannot be advised as general first-line therapy.

Since the pathogenicity of empyema is a dynamic process, therapeutic strategy must be decided based on empyema stage and clinical experience. Each referral center should agree on a diagnostic and therapeutic flowchart based on current evidence and local expertise. The flow chart outlined for our center is presented.