MyMedR

Fulltext Repair of thoracic oesophageal perforation with latissimus dorsi flap

Yap CM

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Mar;49(1):100-1.

Thoracic oesophageal perforation, a life-threatening condition, is a therapeutic challenge. A 20 year old male developed a lower oesophageal perforation following an abdominal cardiomyotomy for achalasia of the lower oesophagus. The resulting suppurative mediastinitis and left empyema thoracis were treated by decortication. The oesophageal perforation was closed using a transposition pedicle left latissimus dorsi muscle flap.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema/etiology; Empyema/surgery*

Pyopneumothorax secondary to Streptococcus milleri infection

Che Rahim MJ, Mohammad N, Wan Ghazali WS

BMJ Case Rep, 2016 Nov 23;2016.

PMID: 27881590 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-217537

We report a case of a 46-year-old Malay woman with underlying hypothyroidism post thyroidectomy who presented with worsening breathlessness, orthopnoea, productive cough and left-sided pleuritic chest pain of 3 days duration. Chest X-ray on admission showed left-sided massive hydropneumothorax. Pleural tapping revealed empyema. A chest tube was inserted immediately. The culture of pleural fluid grew Streptococcus constellatus The patient was treated with antibiotics for a total of 6 weeks and underwent open thoracotomy and decortication during admission. Subsequently, her lung condition improved and there was no evidence of recurrence during follow-up.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural/diagnosis; Empyema, Pleural/microbiology; Empyema, Pleural/therapy

Fulltext Invasive Pneumococcal Pneumonia with Massive Empyema: a case report

Tin Nwe Latt

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1:41-47.

Although the use of appropriate antibiotics has significantly improved the outcome of pneumonia, severe complications are still encountered. We report here of a case with invasive pneumococcal pneumonia with massive empyema. A 2-year-4-month old girl presented with fever for 8 days and intermittent cough for 2 weeks. On examination, reduced air entry with dullness on percussion was noted on the left lung. Chest ultrasound revealed moderate to gross pleural effusion with septations, for which left thoraco-centesis with insertion of pigtail tube was performed. Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in the pleural fluid. Intravenous (IV) benzylpenicillin and ceftriaxone were given together with one course (5 days) of intrapleural urokinase to breakdown the septations. Timely and appropriate management of pneumonia including the use of thrombolytic agent is vital to ensure optimal outcome and reduce the need of invasive procedures in cases with massive empyema. Public awareness of pneumococcal vaccination is also essential as a part of preventive measures.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema

Fulltext Invasive Pneumococcal Pneumonia with Massive Empyema: a case report

Tin Nwe Latt

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1(2):41-47.

MyJurnal

Although the use of appropriate antibiotics has significantly improved the outcome of pneumonia, severe complications are still encountered. We report here of a case with invasive pneumococcal pneumonia with massive empyema. A 2-year-4-month old girl presented with fever for 8 days and intermittent cough for 2 weeks. On examination, reduced air entry with dullness on percussion was noted on the left lung. Chest ultrasound revealed moderate to gross pleural effusion with septations, for which left thoraco-centesis with insertion of pigtail tube was performed. Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in the pleural fluid. Intravenous (IV) benzylpenicillin and ceftriaxone were given together with one course (5 days) of intrapleural urokinase to breakdown the septations. Timely and appropriate management of pneumonia including the use of thrombolytic agent is vital to ensure optimal outcome and reduce the need of invasive procedures in cases with massive empyema. Public awareness of pneumococcal vaccination is also essential as a part of preventive measures.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema

The great masquerade: Empyema thoracis as an unusual presentation of primary lung malignancy

Nyanti LE, Kho SS, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2019 02;74(1):79-81.

PMID: 30846667

Primary lung malignancy presenting as empyema is rare, with a reported incidence of 0.3%. We report a case of a 60- year-old man presenting with unilateral pleural effusion; diagnostic thoracocentesis confirmed Salmonella empyema. Post-drainage, chest radiograph showed persisting right hemithorax opacity; subsequent computed tomography revealed a right lung mass with right upper lobe bronchus obliteration. Percutaneous biopsy confirmed advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma. We discuss the mechanism of post-obstructive pneumonia in lung cancerassociated empyema and the utility of bedside ultrasound in diagnosis of lung masses. Clinicians are alerted to the possibility of lung malignancy in elderly patients presenting with empyema.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural/diagnosis*; Empyema, Pleural/microbiology; Empyema, Pleural/pathology

Fulltext A case of empyema thoracis caused by actinomycosis

Hooi LN, Na BS, Sin KS

Med J Malaysia, 1992 Dec;47(4):311-5.

PMID: 1303486

A female patient who presented with left empyema thoracis caused by Actinomyces odontolyticus is reported. She responded to treatment with penicillin and metronidazole but after 3 weeks developed leucopenia complicated by gram-negative septicaemia. Leucopenia improved rapidly on withdrawal of metronidazole. Treatment was continued with a prolonged course of penicillin and she made an uneventful recovery.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural/drug therapy; Empyema, Pleural/etiology*; Empyema, Pleural/microbiology

Fulltext Inadvertent diaphragmatic rent following thoracic surgery for empyema thoracis successfully repaired with mesh

Henry Tan Chor Lip, Tan Jih Huei, Simon Jerome Vendargon

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(3):322-324.

MyJurnal

Iatrogenic diaphragmatic entry following thoracic surgery is rare with only two cases reported till date. This case reports on a 46-year-old male with persistent pleural sepsis due to right empyema thoracis despite best medical ef- forts. Following a right thoracotomy and decortication, the right diaphragm was inadvertently incised due to dense adhesions between the diaphragm and thickened cortex. To our knowledge, this is the third case reported of iatro- genic diaphragmatic entry following thoracic surgery for empyema thoracis. The pearls from this case report is that any evidence of empyema thoracis involving the lower lobe on imaging should warn the surgeons to be aware of inadvertent entry into the peritoneal cavity, as the diaphragm can be adherent to the cortex trapping the lower lobe.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural

Fulltext Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated by empyema: a rare presentation

Othman N, Yip CW, Samat NA

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):389-91.

PMID: 16379202

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common causative agent for childhood pneumonia. However, empyema is a rare presentation. We report a case of a previously well child who presented with a right-sided empyema. M. pneumoniae was confirmed serologically with evidence of a four-fold rise in Mycoplasma IgM titre. The empyema required drainage procedures for more than two weeks. The infection resolved with a course of six weeks of treatment with erythromycin.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema/microbiology*; Empyema/therapy

Fulltext Bilateral neonatal breast abscess in a well-appearing neonate

Muhammad Yusoff Mohd Ramdzan, Jamil Aiman Mohd Baharuddin, Nordiyana Azmi, Noraida Ramli, Nor Rosidah Ibrahim, Rostenberghe, Hans Van

Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2019;25(1):27-29.

MyJurnal

Neonatal mastitis and abscess are rare and most often unilateral. Neonatal breast massage for physiological breast hypertrophy is suspected to be a predisposing factor in the case reported here: a 14-day-old neonate with bilateral neonatal breast abscess, treated effectively with intravenous cloxacillin and surgical aspiration.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural

Fulltext Spontaneous oesophageal perforation: a case report

Shu Ann Hon, Jan Jan Chai, Lian Thai Lee, Qin Jian Low

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(2):326-328.

MyJurnal

A 49-year-old gentleman presented with epigastric pain for one day associated with one episode of vomiting and dyspnoea. Respiratory examination showed reduced breath sound over his left lower zone. He was treated as left spontaneous pneumothorax and left lung empyema requiring left chest tube insertion and intravenous antibiotics. His left pleural fluid biochemistry result was exudative while its centrifuge showed empyema. In ward, we noticed food material draining from his left chest tube during feeding. An urgent contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) thorax showed a left oesophageal-pleural fistula with possible broncho-oesophageal fistula. During oesoph- agogastroduodenoscopy (OGDS), air bubbles were seen in his left under-water chest drainage during air-insufflation of the oesophagus. The revised diagnosis was Boerhaave syndrome. He was treated with an esophageal stent to cover the perforation and a left lung decortication via video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for his left empyema. He improved and was discharged well.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural

Spectra of central nervous system melioidosis

Muthusamy KA, Waran V, Puthucheary SD

J Clin Neurosci, 2007 Dec;14(12):1213-5.

PMID: 17964168

Burkholderia pseudomallei infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare with less than 50 cases reported over the last 30 years. The retrospective melioidosis study at University Malaya Medical Centre has documented three cases of CNS melioidosis out of more than 160 cases of melioidosis since 1978. There were two patients with brain abscess and one with spinal epidural abscess. The predisposing factors were: one patient was an aboriginal farmer and the other two were diabetic. Their age ranged from 17 to 45 years. Prominent neurological features were limb weakness, cranial nerve palsy (6th and 7th) and visual disturbance. CT brain scan and MRI spine showed abscess formation, subdural collection, and spinal epidural collection, osteomyelitis of vertebra and occipital bone and also sagital sinus thrombosis. All these patients underwent surgical drainage leading to bacteriological diagnosis as well as appropriate long-term antibiotic therapy. All had good recovery at 6 months after completion of treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Subdural/etiology; Empyema, Subdural/microbiology; Empyema, Subdural/pathology

A Homemade, High-fidelity Ultrasound Model for Simulating Pneumonia with Parapneumonic Effusion and Empyema

James V, Kee CY, Ong GY

J Emerg Med, 2019 Apr;56(4):421-425.

PMID: 30638645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.015

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is increasingly used for both diagnostic and guided procedures. Increasingly, POCUS has been used for identification of pneumonia and to assist in the differentiation of pleural effusions, as well as to guide thoracentesis. As such, there is a need for training with ideally high-fidelity lung ultrasound phantoms to ensure ultrasound proficiency and procedural competency. Unfortunately, most commercial ultrasound phantoms remain expensive and may have limited fidelity.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to create and describe a homemade, high-fidelity ultrasound phantom model for demonstrating pneumonia with pleural effusions for teaching purposes.

DISCUSSION: An ultrasound phantom was constructed using a water-filled latex glove with a sliver of meat in it, covered over by a palm-sized piece of meat (skin and ribs are optional to increase ultrasonographic details and realism). This would appear like parapneumonic effusions with organized pneumonia under ultrasound examination. Creamer (or talc) can be added to the water in the glove to simulate empyema. The model can also be used to teach simple effusions and for ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and in clinical decision making.

CONCLUSIONS: Easily prepared, homemade high-fidelity ultrasound phantom models for instructions on identification of pleural effusions and ultrasound-guided pleural tap of parapneumonic effusion were made.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema/diagnosis*

Fulltext Subdural collections due to non-typhi Salmonella infections in two Malaysian children

Intan HI, Zubaidah CD, Norazah A, Norlijah O

Singapore Med J, 2008 Jul;49(7):e186-9.

PMID: 18695854

Subdural collections caused by Salmonella infection are rarely encountered in children. We present two cases caused by non-typhi Salmonella, one a four-and-a-half-month-old boy presenting with subdural effusion, and the other, a 16-month-old boy with empyema. The diagnosis was confirmed on blood and subdural pus cultures. One patient had status epilepticus following focal fit, and the other had prolonged fever without any localising signs of infection on admission. They responded well to prompt surgical drainage and prolonged systemic antibiotic therapy. Contrary to previous reports, both patients showed favourable outcome in terms of neurological sequelae.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Subdural/diagnosis; Empyema, Subdural/microbiology

Infections in post-tsunami victims

Othman N, Ismail IH, Yip R, Zainuddin Z, Kasim SM, Isa R, et al.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2007 Oct;26(10):960-1.

PMID: 17901807 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181257234

Two tsunami survivors from Banda Acheh, Sumatra, presented with pyrexia of unknown origin and a nonresolving left-sided empyema, respectively. Both children had mixed infections of tuberculosis and melioidosis; Salmonella typhi was also present in the second patient. Mixed infections are common late sequela complications in post-tsunami victims.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema/microbiology

Fulltext Empyema thoracis presented as giant back abscess

Abd Karim SH, Wan Zain WZ, Mohd Hashim MN, Zakaria AD, Hayati F, Ng CY

Radiol Case Rep, 2021 May;16(5):1061-1064.

PMID: 33680277 DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.02.030

Empyema thoracis (ET) is defined as pus in the pleural space, either localized or involving the entire pleural cavity, due to diverse etiologies. In severe form, it may infiltrate the extrapulmonary region. Clinical guideline describes 3 stages of parapneumonic effusion before developing into an ET, namely the exudative stage, the fibrinopurulent stage, and the organizing/late stage. We highlight a 59-year-old gentleman who presented a back swelling masquerading as a deep-seated abscess, in which the diagnosis of ET had not been established early. The principles of treatment are treating the underlying condition such as pneumonia, pleural drainage and debridement, full re-expansion of the collapsed lung by performing chest physiotherapy, and improving nutrition. ET is a condition with a dynamic process due to diverse etiologies, either localized or involving the entire pleural cavity. The gold standard in diagnosing ET is the pleural aspiration of fluid from the pleural space, whereas the management of ET may include non-surgical and/or surgical treatments based on the basic principles of ET treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural

Intracranial suppuration caused by Micrococcus luteus

Selladurai BM, Sivakumaran S, Aiyar S, Mohamad AR

Br J Neurosurg, 1993;7(2):205-7.

PMID: 8098607

Micrococcus spp. are commensal organisms colonizing the body surfaces of humans. In a few instances these organisms have been reported to colonize ventricular shunts. We report a patient, with no overt evidence of immunosuppression, in whom Micrococcus luteus was responsible for intracranial suppuration at multiple sites.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Subdural/diagnosis; Empyema, Subdural/microbiology; Empyema, Subdural/surgery

Fulltext Correlations between subdural empyema and paraclinical as well as clinical parameters amongst urban malay paediatric patients

Nayan SA, Abdullah MS, Naing NN, Haspani MS, Md Ralib AR

Malays J Med Sci, 2008 Oct;15(4):19-27.

PMID: 22589634 MyJurnal

Paediatric subdural empyema is frequently seen in developing Asean countries secondary to rinosinusogenic origins. A cross-sectional analysis on the surgical treatment of intracranial subdural empyema in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), a major referral center, was done in 2004. A total number of 44 children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included into this study. The methods of first surgery, volume of empyema on contrasted CT brain, improvement of neurological status, re-surgery, mortality and morbidity, as well as the demographic data such as age, gender, sex, duration of illness, clinical presentation, probable origin of empyema, cultures and follow-up were studied. Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between surgical methods and the survival of the patients, neurological improvement, clearance of empyema on CT brain, re-surgery and long morbidity among the survivors. If the 20% or more of the cells were having expected frequency less than five, then Fisher's Exact test was applied. The level of significance was set at 0.05. SPSS version 12.0 was used for data entry and data analysis. There were 44 patients who were less than 18 years. Their mean age was 5.90 ± 6.01 years. There were 30 males (68.2%) and 14 females (31.8%) involved in the study. Malays were majority with 28 (63.6%) followed by Indian 8 (18.2%), Chinese 5 (11.4%) and others 3 (6.8%). The variables which were under interest were gender, race, headache, vomiting, seizures, sign of meningism, cranial nerve palsy, thickness site of abscess, first surgical treatment, improvement in neurological deficit, clearance of CT and whether re-surgery was necessary. All variables were found not to be associated with Henk W Mauser Score for PISDE grading. Comparison between this urban study and a rural setting study by the same corresponding author in the same period on subdural empyema was done. Common parameters were compared and it was found out that seizures were more prevalent in urban study where the patients are more than one year old (p=0.005). Mortality was much higher in urban study than the rural one (p=0.040). The larger proportion of urban group had volume of abscess less than or equal to 50 ml (p=< 0.001).

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema; Empyema, Subdural

Fulltext Paediatric one lung anaesthesia by selective bronchial intubation

Lew YS

Singapore Med J, 2000 Aug;41(8):398-400.

PMID: 11256348

One lung anaesthesia in paediatric patients may not always be achievable by bronchial blockade or double lumen tube intubation due to inadequate experiences or facilities. We attempted to isolate right lung by selectively intubating the left bronchus with single lumen tube on a 10 kg child. Optimal surgical condition and satisfactory oxygenation achieved but complicated with severe respiratory acidosis. The possible causes for hypercapnea in this child were discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema/radiography; Empyema/surgery

Fulltext Massive hemothorax following administration of intrapleural streptokinase

Chai FY, Kuan YC

Ann Thorac Med, 2011 Jul;6(3):149-51.

PMID: 21760848 DOI: 10.4103/1817-1737.82451

The administration of intrapleural streptokinase (IPSK) is widely practiced in the management of loculated empyema thoracis. To our knowledge, there have been only 4 cases of hemorrhagic complications attributed to the administration of IPSK reported in the literature. In this article, we report a case of a 17-year-old girl who received IPSK and developed shock, anemia, coagulopathy and massive hemothorax. Our discussion focuses on the hemorrhagic complication of chest tube insertion and the role of IPSK in blood clot lysis and inhibition of local hemostasis.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Pleural

Sphenoethmoid sinusitis in a child resulting in a disastrous intracranial sequela

Sow AJ, Jahendran J, Toh CJ, Kew TY

Ear Nose Throat J, 2012 Nov;91(11):E20-2.

PMID: 23288800

Localized sphenoethmoid sinusitis in children is a rare occurrence. It is usually overlooked because of the misconception that the sinuses are not developed. We describe a case of localized acute sphenoid and right posterior ethmoid sinusitis that presented as right frontobasal subdural empyema and multiple deep cerebral abscesses. Morbidity from subdural empyema in children is high. Early diagnosis and treatment based on recognition that the etiology might involve the paranasal sinuses affects the overall prognosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Empyema, Subdural/etiology*

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