SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF STAPHYLOCOCCIC PNEUMONIA

Abstract

The surgical complications of staphylococcic pneumonia are empyema, pneumothorax, fibrothorax and pneumatocele. Experience with 18 patients treated for one or more of these complications during the past 5 years is reported. Empyema and pneumothorax occur frequently, and early in the course of the illness are best managed conservatively by intercostal insertion of a catheter connected to water-sealed drainage. The patients are critically ill and require careful supportive therapy in addition to specific antibiotics. Fibrothorax and pneumatocele rarely require surgical intervention, since the organizing exudate and the blebs present after staphylococcic pneumonia subside spontaneously without symptoms in the majority of patients. In patients with progressive symptoms and increasing deformity, complete resection of the organized exudate and cystic lung is recommended.