SOC
Surgery on Children

Surgery on Children Journal aims to publish issues related to Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatric Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatric Ear Nose Throat, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pediatric Urology, Pediatric Surgical Intensive Care Clinic, and other clinical surgery fields on children of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level and accepts articles on these topics.

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Original Article
Surgical management of childhood empyema: a clinical review
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate how treatment strategies evolve based on disease progression and to assess the impact of new therapeutic approaches in patients experiencing progressive stages of empyema.
Methods: This retrospective, single-center study evaluated patients under 18 years of age who underwent surgical interventions for empyema at an educational and research hospital between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2023.
Results: A total of 20 patients with empyema in stage 2 (n=12) or stage 3 (n=8) were included in the study. These patients underwent fibrinolytic therapy and/or thoracic surgery. Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 included those treated with fibrinolytic therapy alone (n=6); Group 2 included those receiving combined therapy (n=6); and Group 3 consisted of those directly treated with VATS (n=8). Advanced statistical comparisons of hospital stay durations revealed significant differences between Groups 1 and 2 and between Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: There is no definitive evidence to suggest the superiority of one treatment method over another for managing pleural empyema. Given the absence of standardized treatment protocols, a multidisciplinary approach involving timely and meticulous evaluation of each patient is crucial. Such an approach can improve prognosis and reduce hospitalization durations. Establishing a standardized protocol for empyema treatment could enhance response rates, shorten hospital stays, mitigate thoracic surgical risks, and facilitate earlier surgical decision-making for patients requiring thoracic intervention.

Keywords : Pleural empyema, pediatric, fibrinolitic, thoracic surgery

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Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2025
Page : 41-47
https://doi.org/10.51271/SOC-0034
Article Information
Received : 29 Oca 2025
Accepted : 12 Şub 2025
Published : 10 Nis 2025
Corresponding Author :

Erol Can Kulice: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Külice EC, Aldemir H, Çelik N, Küçük Külice G. Surgical management of childhood empyema: a clinical review. Surg Child. 2025;2(2):41-47.

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