THE ROLE OF EARLY VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH EMPYEMA THORACIS

Empyema thoracis management is a challenge and an inappropriate diagnostic-therapeutic work up can lead to serious short and long-term complications. VATS resulted to be safe and effective for the treatment of Empyema thoracis, and an early minimally invasive thoracoscopic intervention (early VATS) correlates with better outcomes. It emerged that the elapsed period between the onset of symptoms and surgery correlates in a statistically signicant way with the post-operative stay in intensive care and the analysis between early VATS(Stage I & II), late VATS (Stage III) and postoperative hospitalization showed a statistically signicant reduction of the post-operative hospitalization in the early VATS group. Aim And Objectives: 1.To evaluate the role of VATS in management of early and late stage of Empyema thoracis. 2. To study the efcacy of VATS as a therapeutic tool in Empyema Thoracis. Methodology: A retrospective study was carried out in 40 Empyema thoracis patients admitted to surgery ward, to assess the role of the early video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in them at a tertiary care hospital. Results: Total 40 patients were studied. Stage 1 and 2 were combined as early Empyema cases and stage 3 as late Empyema cases. Patients in late stage required more time to operate, longer duration of oxygen therapy and intercostal drainage, prolonged hospital stay as compared to early stage signicantly. Conclusion: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with early stage of empyema thoracis reduces post op complications, post op hospital stay, operative time, oxygen therapy and ICD duration.