Sonographic septation: a useful prognostic indicator of acute thoracic empyema

Ultrasound and Intrapleural Enzymatic Therapy for Complicated Pleural Effusion: A Case Series with a Literature Review

Pleural effusion is the most common manifestation of pleural disease, and chest ultrasound is crucial for diagnostic workup and post-treatment monitoring. Ultrasound helps distinguish the various types of pleural effusion and enables the detection of typical manifestations of empyema, which presents as a complicated, septated effusion. This may benefit from drainage and the use of intrapleural enzyme therapy or may require more invasive approaches, such as medical or surgical thoracoscopy. The mechanism of action of intrapleural enzymatic therapy (IPET) is the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin clots that form septa or the loculation of effusions and promotes their removal. In addition, IPET has anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate the immune response in the pleural space, resulting in reduced pleural inflammation and improved fluid reabsorption. In this article, we briefly review the literature on the efficacy of IPET and describe a case series in which most practical applications of IPET are demonstrated, i.e., as a curative treatment but also as an alternative, propaedeutic, or subsequent treatment to surgery.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Workup of Pleural Effusion or Pleural Disease

Pleural effusions are categorized as transudative or exudative, with transudative effusions usually reflecting the sequala of a systemic etiology and exudative effusions usually resulting from a process localized to the pleura. Common causes of transudative pleural effusions include congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and renal failure, whereas exudative effusions are typically due to infection, malignancy, or autoimmune disorders. This document summarizes appropriateness guidelines for imaging in four common clinical scenarios in patients with known or suspected pleural effusion or pleural disease. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been established as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, studies outside the critical care setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of TUS for hospitalized or ambulatory community patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study conducted from 2016 to 2020 in the TUS clinic at Heraklion University Hospital. TUS examination was performed using a standard ultrasound machine (EUB HITACHI 8500), and a high-frequency microconvex probe (5-8 MHz). Patients had been referred by their primary physician to address a range of different questions. The various respiratory system entities were characterised according to internationally established criteria.

RESULTS

762 TUS studies were performed on 526 patients due to underlying malignancy (n = 376), unexplained symptoms/signs (n = 53), pregnancy related issues (n = 42), evaluation of abnormal findings in X-ray (n = 165), recent surgery/trauma (n = 23), recent onset respiratory failure (n = 12), acute respiratory infection (n = 66) and underlying non-malignant disease (n = 25). Pleural effusion was the commonest pathologic entity (n = 610), followed by consolidation (n = 269), diaphragmatic dysfunction/paradox (n = 174) and interstitial syndrome (n = 53). Discrepancies between chest X-ray and ultrasonographic findings were demonstrated in 96 cases. The TUS findings guided invasive therapeutic management in 448 cases and non-invasive management in 43 cases, while follow-up monitoring was decided in 271 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that TUS can identify the most common respiratory pathologic entities encountered in hospitalized and community ambulatory patients, and is especially useful in guiding the decision making process in a diverse group of patients.

Effectiveness of Immediate Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Empyema: A Multicentre, Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Because of limitations in previous randomised controlled trials and observational studies, the effectiveness of immediate video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patients with empyema in real-world settings remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate whether immediate VATS improves clinical outcomes in patients with empyema.

METHODS

This multicentre retrospective cohort study included 744 patients with physician-diagnosed empyema from six hospitals between 2006 and 2021. The exposure was VATS performed within 3 days of empyema diagnosis, the primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and time from diagnosis to discharge. We used propensity score weighting to account for potential confounders. For outcome analyses, we used logistic regression for mortality outcomes and gamma regression for the number of days.

RESULTS

Among the 744 patients, 53 (7.1%) underwent VATS within 3 days, and 691 (92.9%) initially received conservative treatment. After propensity score weighting, the differences in 30- and 90-day mortalities between the immediate VATS and initial conservative treatment groups were 1.18% (95% confidence interval [CI], -10.7 to 13.0%) and -0.08% (95% CI, -10.3 to 10.2%), respectively. The differences in length of hospital stay and time from diagnosis to discharge were -3.22 (95% CI, -6.19 to -0.25 days) and -5.04 days (95% CI, -8.19 to -1.90 days), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our real-world study showed that immediate VATS reduced the length of hospital stay and the time from diagnosis to discharge. Considering the small sample and differences in protocols between countries, further large-scale studies are warranted.

The Biological Role of Pleural Fluid PAI-1 and Sonographic Septations in Pleural Infection: Analysis of a Prospectively Collected Clinical Outcome Study

Rationale: Sonographic septations are assumed to be important clinical predictors of outcome in pleural infection, but the evidence for this is sparse. The inflammatory and fibrinolysis-associated intrapleural pathway(s) leading to septation formation have not been studied in a large cohort of pleural fluid (PF) samples with confirmed pleural infection matched with ultrasound and clinical outcome data. Objectives: To assess the presence and severity of septations against baseline PF PAI-1 (Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor-1) and other inflammatory and fibrinolysis-associated proteins as well as to correlate these with clinically important outcomes. Methods: We analyzed 214 pleural fluid samples from PILOT (Pleural Infection Longitudinal Outcome Study), a prospective observational pleural infection study, for inflammatory and fibrinolysis-associated proteins using the Luminex platform. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the association of pleural biological markers with septation presence and severity (on ultrasound) and clinical outcomes. Measurements and Main Results: PF PAI-1 was the only protein independently associated with septation presence (P < 0.001) and septation severity (P = 0.003). PF PAI-1 concentrations were associated with increased length of stay (P = 0.048) and increased 12-month mortality (P = 0.003). Sonographic septations alone had no relation to clinical outcomes. Conclusions: In a large and well-characterized cohort, this is the first study to associate pleural biological parameters with a validated sonographic septation outcome in pleural infection. PF PAI-1 is the first biomarker to demonstrate an independent association with mortality. Although PF PAI-1 plays an integral role in driving septation formation, septations themselves are not associated with clinically important outcomes. These novel findings now require prospective validation.

Optimal diagnostic strategies for pleural diseases and identifying high-risk patients

INTRODUCTION

Pleural diseases encompass a broad range of conditions with diverse and heterogenous etiologies. Diagnostics in pleural diseases thus represents a challenging field with a wide array of available testing to distinguish between the numerous causes of pleural disease. Nonetheless, deploying best practice diagnostics in this area is essential in reducing both duration o the investigation pathway and symptom burden.

AREAS COVERED

This article critically appraises the optimal diagnostic strategies and pathway in patients with pleural disease, reviewing the latest evidence and key practice points in achieving a treatable diagnosis in patients with pleural disease. We also cover future and novel directions that are likely to influence pleural diagnostics in the near future. PubMed was searched for articles related to pleural diagnostics (search terms below), with the date ranges including June 2012 to June 2022.

EXPERT OPINION

No single test will ever be sufficient to provide a diagnosis in pleural conditions. The key to reducing procedure burden and duration to diagnosis lies in personalizing the investigation pathway to patients and deploying tests with the highest diagnostic yield early (such as pleural biopsy in infection and malignancy). Novel biomarkers may also allow earlier diagnostic precision in the near future.

Sonographic findings of thoracic empyema: outcome perspectives

Background

Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and a range of drainage techniques for the infected pleural area, thoracic empyema continues to be a serious reason behind morbidity and mortality. Although chest ultrasonography has been found to be an efficient diagnostic tool for pleural effusion features, it is rarely utilized to predict the outcomes of pleural illnesses.

Aim of the work

To determine the impact of sonographic patterns in predicting the outcomes of thoracic empyema patients.

Patients and methods

In this retrospective study, patients were divided into four groups based on their sonographic patterns: (I) complex non-septated effusions (plankton sign), (II) complex fixed septated effusions, (III) complex mobile septated effusions, and (IV) homogenously echogenic effusions (hematocrit sign). These sonographic patterns were compared to the patients’ co-morbidities, length of stay in the hospital, chest tube drainage, and medicinal or surgical therapy effectiveness.

Results

In comparison with other sonographic pattern groups, patients in group I (70.6%) and group IV (45.5%) had effective thoracic tube drainage with a very high statistically significant difference (P value < 0.001). For patients in group II (75%) (P value < 0.001), open thoracotomy was a very highly significant effective therapy (P value 0.001).

Conclusion

The sonographic pattern of thoracic empyema is a useful tool for guiding treatment decisions in these patients.

Multifocal locules including the anterior mediastinum side as a surgical indicator in pleural infection

Background

The indication for and the timing of surgery in patients with pleural infection remains unclear. Determining the need for surgery in patients with pleural infection may help in the early consultation of surgeons.

Methods

Data of 167 consecutive patients with pleural infection were retrospectively reviewed. To detect a surgical indicator, the variables of patients who required surgery were compared with those of patients who were cured by non-surgical therapy (n=94) and patients resistant to the non-surgical therapy (n=73; 62 underwent surgery, and 11 showed recurrence or disease-related death after non-surgical treatment). Prognosis and timing of surgery were analyzed by comparing three groups: patients who underwent surgery within 7 days of admission (n=33), patients who underwent surgery after 7 days of admission (n=29), and patients who underwent non-surgical therapy (n=105).

Results

The presence of multifocal locules, including a locule on the anterior mediastinum side (LAMS) was a significant indicator of resistance to initial non-surgical therapy, as compared to the absence of locules (P<0.0001), a single locule (P<0.0001), or multifocal locules without a LAMS (P=0.0041). Recurrence and mortality were not observed in the patients who underwent surgery within 7 days of admission, and the hospitalization period (P=0.0071) and duration of C-reactive protein (CRP) improvement (P<0.0001) were significantly shorter in these patients compared with those who that underwent surgery after 7 days.

Conclusions

In patients with pleural infection, the presence of multifocal locules, including a LAMS, was associated with resistance to non-surgical therapy. Early surgery should be considered for these patients to shorten the hospitalization period and improve the prognosis.

Ultrasound for Pleural Disease. Beyond a Pocket of Pleural Fluid

The evolution of pleural disease imaging modalities through the years has helped the scientific community understand and treat various disease states. Ultrasound (US) has been an image modality that has reigned superior to those used in the past such as chest X-ray and computed tomographic scan in terms of cost effectiveness, portability, and reduction in unwarranted radiation exposure to patients. Here we provide a succinct review of US use in pleural disease including imaging techniques, identifying safe pleural space for access, and predicting pleural fluid volume and etiology along with specificities regarding trapped lung identification and pleural mass biopsy. We believe bedside chest US is an adjunct to the physical exam adding superior diagnostic abilities. Further research is warranted in more specific aspects of sonographic use such as in fibrinolytic therapy management, evaluation for trapped lung, and the utility of specific modes like the color flow Doppler.

Sonographic septation: a useful diagnostic predictor of complicated parapneumonic effusion

Sonographic septation is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality in patients diagnosed with empyema. However, it is unknown whether sonographic septation is associated with complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE) or the need for invasive procedures among patients with pneumonia. In this retrospective study, we included 180 patients with non-purulent neutrophilic exudative pleural effusion secondary to pulmonary infections such as pneumonia and lung abscess. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, including baseline clinical characteristics, values from blood samples, and sonographic echogenicity, to identify variables correlated with CPPE and the need for invasive procedures. Seventy of the 180 included patients (38.89%) displayed sonographic septation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that sonographic septation (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.38 (95% CI 1.64 to 6.98), p=0.001) and younger age (AOR=2.63 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.58), p=0.012) were independently associated with CPPE. With regard to treatment strategy, sonographic septation (AOR 9.06 (95% CI 3.71 to 22.11), p<0.001) and total serum protein level (AOR=1.80 (95% CI 1.13 to 2.86), p=0.013) were independently associated with the need for subsequent invasive procedures in patients with CPPE using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Sonographic septation is a useful predictor of CPPE and may imply the need for early invasive procedures.

Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy versus Early Medical Thoracoscopy for Treatment of Pleural Infection. Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Rationale: Pleural infection is frequently encountered in clinical practice and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Limited evidence exists regarding the optimal treatment. Although both early medical thoracoscopy (MT) and tube thoracostomy with intrapleural instillation of tissue plasminogen activator and human recombinant deoxyribonuclease are acceptable treatments for patients with complicated pleural infection, there is a lack of comparative data for these modes of management.Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of early MT versus intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) in selected patients with multiloculated pleural infection and empyema.Methods: This was a prospective multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving patients who underwent MT or IPFT for pleural infection. The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay after either intervention. Secondary outcomes included the total length of hospital stay, treatment failure, 30-day mortality, and adverse events.Results: Thirty-two patients with pleural infection were included in the study. The median length of stay after an intervention was 4 days in the IPFT arm and 2 days in the MT arm (P = 0.026). The total length of hospital stay was 6 days in the IPFT arm and 3.5 days in MT arm (P = 0.12). There was no difference in treatment failure, mortality, or adverse events between the treatment groups, and no serious complications related to either intervention were recorded.Conclusions: When used early in the course of a complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema, MT is safe and might shorten hospital stays for selected patients as compared with IPFT therapy. A multicenter trial with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02973139).

Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Transudative Pleural Fluids

AIMS

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of thoracic ultrasonography (USG) in diagnosis of pleural exudates and transudates using pleural thickness (PT) measurement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent investigations for pleural fluid between January 2018 and May 2018 were included in this prospective study. The patients were evaluated using radiologic imaging modalities to detect pleural fluid, and PT was measured using thoracic USG. The patients were then divided into 2 groups according to Light's criteria as transudative pleural fluid (TPF) and exudative pleural fluid (EPF), and the results were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 62±15.1 years. Forty-eight patients (65.8%) had EPF and 25 (34.2%) had TPF. Thoracic USG revealed a mean PT of 0.3±0.1 cm in the TPF group and 0.6±0.3 cm in the EPF group (P<0.001). The optimal cut-off value for PT was 0.2 cm in the TPF group. The sensitivity and specificity of thoracic USG were calculated as 87.5% and 56%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The measurement of PT using thoracic USG in this study has a high sensitivity but low specificity for identifying transudates from exudates. This approach may be useful in patients who refuse thoracentesis or have a contraindication for the procedure, and in emergency and intensive care unit settings. We recommend further studies to determine the efficacy of thoracic USG studies in patients with pleural fluids.

Role of medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusions

Objective:

The role of medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of pleural infections is increasingly being recognized. This study was done to assess the role of medical thoracoscopy in the management of carefully selected subset of patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions (PPEs).

Materials and Methods:

We analyzed retrospective data of 164 thoracoscopic procedures performed at our center on patients with complicated PPE in the past 10 years. Patients were subjected to medical thoracoscopy based on ultrasonographic stratification and a computed tomography (CT) thorax. Medical thoracoscopy was performed after an intercostal block under conscious sedation with midazolam (2 mg) and fentanyl (50 mcg) and local anesthesia with lignocaine 2% (10–15 ml), through a single port 10 mm diameter thoracoscope.

Results:

A total of 164 patients (119 males and 45 females) underwent medical thoracoscopy during the study period. The mean age was 47.4 ± 15.9 (median, 50; range, 16–86). The final diagnosis by thoracoscopy was bacterial empyema in 93 patients and tuberculosis in 71 patients. Medical thoracoscopy was successful without subsequent intervention in 160 (97.5%) patients, two patients underwent a second procedure, in the form of decortication, and two patients died due to sepsis. There were no major procedure-related complications that required intervention.

Conclusion:

Early adhesiolysis and drainage of fluid using medical thoracoscopy should be considered in patients with multiloculated complicated PPE after careful radiological (ultrasonography and CT) stratification, as a more cost-effective and safe method of management.

Thoracic ultrasound in the modern management of pleural disease

Physician-led thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has substantially changed how respiratory disorders, and in particular pleural diseases, are managed. The use of TUS as a point-of-care test enables the respiratory physician to quickly and accurately diagnose pleural pathology and ensure safe access to the pleural space during thoracentesis or chest drain insertion. Competence in performing TUS is now an obligatory part of respiratory speciality training programmes in different parts of the world. Pleural physicians with higher levels of competence routinely use TUS during the planning and execution of more sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, such as core needle pleural biopsies, image-guided drain insertion and medical thoracoscopy. Current research is gauging the potential of TUS in predicting the outcome of different pleural interventions and how it can aid in tailoring the optimum treatment according to different TUS-based parameters.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Intensive Care Unit

Spreading beyond the realm of tertiary academic medical centers, point-of-care ultrasound in the intensive care unit is an important diagnostic tool. The real-time feedback garnered can lead to critical and clinically relevant changes in management and decrease potential complications. Bedside ultrasound evaluation in the intensive care setting with a small, portable equipment is well-suited for placement of central lines, lumbar puncture, thoracentesis or other bedside ICU procedures and in the evaluation of cardiac activity, pleural and abdominal cavity and the overall fluid volume. Formalized curriculums centering on point-of-care ultrasound are emerging that will enhance its applicability and relevance.

Sonographic Indicators for Treatment Choice and Follow-Up in Patients with Pleural Effusion

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of thoracic sonography in treatment of pleural effusions and to identify sonographic indicators for surgical intervention.

Materials and Methods

This study included 378 patients with pleural effusions. US characteristics of effusions as the echo structure and pleural thickening were analyzed. Regarding the US finding, the diagnostic or therapeutic procedure was performed.

Results

The study included 267 male and 111 female patients, an average of 56.7 years. Infection was the most frequent cause of effusion. Two hundred sixty-nine patients had loculated and 109 free pleural effusion. Most frequent echo structure of loculated effusion was complex septate, whereas free effusion was mostly anechoic. Successful obtaining of the pleural fluid without real-time guidance was in 88% and under real-time guidance in 99% patients (p < 0.012). There was no significant difference in success rate between free and loculated effusion and regarding the echo structure (p=0.710 and 0.126, respectively). Complete fluid removal after serial thoracentesis or drainage was achieved in 86% patients. Forty-five patients with significantly thicker pleural peel and impairment of the diaphragmatic function than remaining of the group (p < 0.001) underwent surgery. Open thoracotomy and decortication was more frequently performed in patients with completely fixed diaphragm and complex, dominantly septated effusions. There is no significant difference in US parameters comparing to patients underwent VATS, but the number of VATS is too small for valid conclusion.

Conclusion

Thoracic sonography is a very useful tool in the evaluation of clinical course and treatment options in patients with pleural effusions of a different origin.

Pleural Empyema Menagement: A Brief Review of Litterature

Pleural empyema, defined as the presence of purulent material within the pleural space, is the consequence of a suppurative process involving the serous pleural layers. Thoracic empyema is a dynamic process, inflammatory in origin and taking place within a preformed space bordered by both the visceral and parietal pleura. It is a complex clinical entity, neither a sole clinical, laboratory, nor a radiological diagnosis. The primary therapeutic aim: ‘ubi pus evacua’ — if you find pus remove it—has not changed since the age of Celsus. Therefore, treatment of the acute empyema of the pleura is directed to early and complete evacuation of empirical fluid and content, achieving full re-expansion of the lungs and eradication of the infection using appropriate surgical procedures, antibiotics and other supportive procedures. The optimum method of treating empyema should be adjusted to the condition of the patient and the stage of the disease in which the patient is located. The method of treatment depends on the etiology (pneumonic or traumatic), the general condition of the patient and the stage of disease development. By reviewing the available literature, it can be concluded that treating the pleural empyemas is a demanding procedure, in which it is necessary for the treating physician to apply all of his knowledge, and that there is good cooperation with the patient.

Recommendations on the Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Adult Thoracentesis: A Position Statement of the Society of Hospital Medicine

Executive Summary: 1) We recommend that ultrasound should be used to guide thoracentesis to reduce the risk of complications, the most common being pneumothorax. 2) We recommend that ultrasound guidance should be used to increase the success rate of thoracentesis. 3) We recommend that ultrasound-guided thoracentesis should be performed or closely supervised by experienced operators. 4) We suggest that ultrasound guidance be used to reduce the risk of complications from thoracentesis in mechanically ventilated patients. 5) We recommend that ultrasound should be used to identify the chest wall, pleura, diaphragm, lung, and subdiaphragmatic organs throughout the respiratory cycle before selecting a needle insertion site. 6) We recommend that ultrasound should be used to detect the presence or absence of an effusion and approximate the volume of pleural fluid to guide clinical decision-making. 7) We recommend that ultrasound should be used to detect complex sonographic features, such as septations, to guide clinical decision-making regarding the timing and method of pleural drainage. 8) We suggest that ultrasound be used to measure the depth from the skin surface to the parietal pleura to help select an appropriate length needle and determine the maximum needle insertion depth. 9) We suggest that ultrasound be used to evaluate normal lung sliding pre- and postprocedure to rule out pneumothorax. 10) We suggest avoiding delay or interval change in patient position from the time of marking the needle insertion site to performing the thoracentesis. 11) We recommend against performing routine postprocedure chest radiographs in patients who have undergone thoracentesis successfully with ultrasound guidance and are asymptomatic with normal lung sliding postprocedure. 12) We recommend that novices who use ultrasound guidance for thoracentesis should receive focused training in lung and pleural ultrasonography and hands-on practice in procedural technique. 13) We suggest that novices undergo simulation-based training prior to performing ultrasound-guided thoracentesis on patients. 14) Learning curves for novices to become competent in lung ultrasound and ultrasound-guided thoracentesis are not completely understood, and we recommend that training should be tailored to the skill acquisition of the learner and the resources of the institution.

Fibrin turnover and pleural organization: bench to bedside

Recent studies have shed new light on the role of the fibrinolytic system in the pathogenesis of pleural organization, including the mechanisms by which the system regulates mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells and how that process affects outcomes of pleural injury. The key contribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 to the outcomes of pleural injury is now better understood as is its role in the regulation of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy. In addition, the mechanisms by which fibrinolysins are processed after intrapleural administration have now been elucidated, informing new candidate diagnostics and therapeutics for pleural loculation and failed drainage. The emergence of new potential interventional targets offers the potential for the development of new and more effective therapeutic candidates.

Diagnostic approach to pleural diseases: new tricks for an old trade

The burden of pleural diseases has substantially increased in the past decade because of a rise in the incidence of pleural space infections and pleural malignancies in a patient population that is older and more immunocompromised and has more comorbidities. This complexity increasingly requires minimally invasive diagnostic options and tailored management. Implications for patients are such that the limitations of current diagnostic methods need to be addressed by multidisciplinary teams of investigators from the fields of imaging, biology, and engineering. Ignored for a long time as an epiphenomenon at the crossroad of many unrelated medical problems, pleural diseases are finally getting the attention they deserve and have spurred a vibrant and exciting field of research.

State of the art thoracic ultrasound: intervention and therapeutics

The use of thoracic ultrasound outside the radiology department and in everyday clinical practice is becoming increasingly common, having been incorporated into standards of care for many specialties. For the majority of practitioners, their experience of, and exposure to, thoracic ultrasound will be in its use as an adjunct to pleural and thoracic interventions, owing to the widely recognised benefits for patient safety and risk reduction. However, as clinicians become increasingly familiar with the capabilities of thoracic ultrasound, new directions for its use are being sought which might enhance practice and patient care. This article reviews the ways in which the advent of thoracic ultrasound is changing the approach to the investigation and treatment of respiratory disease from an interventional perspective. This will include the impact of thoracic ultrasound on areas including patient safety, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and outcome prediction; and will also consider potential future research and clinical directions.

Ultrasound in the management of pleural disease

INTRODUCTION

Pleural disease encompasses a large range of conditions, is a common presentation to the acute medical take and often requires comprehensive investigation and treatment. Ultrasound is well recognised as a useful investigative tool in pleural disease especially in the field of pleural effusion, pleural thickening and interventional procedures. Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has gained widespread use by physicians as evidence has shown a reduced rate of complications when performing pleural procedures with ultrasound guidance. Areas covered: This article will review studies assessing the role of TUS in the management of pleural disease and examine ongoing research into how TUS could advance our knowledge and understanding over the next decade. Expert commentary: Physician lead thoracic ultrasound has become commonplace over the last decade, and now represents a minimum standard of safety in conducting the majority of 'bedside' pleural procedures. The current evidence points to important diagnostic and procedural roles of the use of bedside thoracic ultrasound. In the future, research developments are likely to lead to the use of thoracic ultrasound in prognostication, targeted treatment and understanding pathogenesis in pleural disease.

Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of pneumonia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Point of care ultrasound continues to become more prevalent in the diagnosis and management of many disease states. In this review, we focus on the use of bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) in the diagnosis of pneumonia. We describe the sonographic findings associated with pneumonia and the recent literature exploring its use in different settings and patient populations.

RECENT FINDINGS

The limited sensitivity of chest radiography in the diagnosis of pneumonia has been well described. Ultrasound is an attractive option because of its low cost, lack of ionizing radiation, portability, and repeatability. An alveolar or focal interstitial pattern has been described as the usual sonographic findings in pneumonia. Multiple studies have compared LUS with chest radiography in pneumonia, and have shown that LUS is at least equivalent, and in many instances superior, to chest radiography.

SUMMARY

Point of care LUS is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis of multiple pulmonary conditions, including pneumonia. Its use in real time with clinical correlation makes it an ideal tool for rapid diagnosis, especially in situations with unstable patients or in low-resource settings.

Point of Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Empyema

BACKGROUND

Emergency ultrasonography is an efficient and cost effective tool for patients who are in respiratory distress. Chest radiographs can yield limited information for these patients. Computed tomography scans have long been the criterion standard for advanced imaging in patients with respiratory complaints, but point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can be performed at bedside, does not expose the patient to radiation, and at times may provide more information than a computed tomography scan.

CASE REPORT

A 60-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension presented to the emergency department complaining of a productive cough associated with fever, weakness, and progressively worsening dyspnea on exertion over the previous 1 to 2 weeks. The physical examination was remarkable for rhonchi in the right upper lobe and diminished breath sounds throughout the right lung. POCUS was performed, and the results revealed severe atelectasis and hepatization of the right lung parenchyma with visualized air bronchograms. Complex hypoechoic material with a posterior spine sign was noted, which increased concern for complex consolidation and effusion. The diagnosis of pneumonia with empyema was made. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: POCUS has become a much more commonly used imaging modality within many emergency departments. Ultrasound is more sensitive than chest radiographs for identifying pathologies such as pneumothorax and simple effusions. This case shows how well POCUS can diagnose empyema even in the setting of diagnostic uncertainty of computed tomographic imaging.

Are some children with empyema at risk for treatment failure with fibrinolytics? A multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend that children with empyema be treated initially with chest tube insertion and intrapleural fibrinolytics. Some patients have poor outcomes with this approach, and it is unclear which factors are associated with treatment failure.

METHODS

Possible risk factors were identified through a review of the literature. Treatment failure was defined as need for repeat pleural drainage and/or total length of stay greater than 2weeks.

RESULTS

We retrospectively identified 314 children with empyema treated with fibrinolytics at The Hospital for Sick Children (2000-2013, n=195), Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (2009-2013, n=39), and McMaster Children's Hospital (2007-2014, n=80). Median length of stay was 11days (range 5-69days). Thirteen percent of children required repeat drainage procedures, and 34% experienced treatment failure. There were no deaths. White blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, albumin, urea to creatinine ratio, and signs of necrosis on initial chest x-ray were not associated with treatment failure. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated increased risk with positive blood culture (odds ratio=2.7), immediate admission to intensive care (odds ratio=2.6), and absence of complex septations on baseline ultrasound (odds ratio=2.1). Male gender and platelet count were associated with treatment failure in the univariate analysis but not in the multivariable model.

CONCLUSIONS

Predicting which children with empyema are at risk for treatment failure with fibrinolytics remains challenging. Risk factors include positive blood culture, immediate admission to intensive care, and absence of complex septations on ultrasound. Routine blood work and inflammatory markers have little prognostic value.

Pleural infection: past, present, and future directions

Pleural space infections are increasing in incidence and continue to have high associated morbidity, mortality, and need for invasive treatments such as thoracic surgery. The mechanisms of progression from a non-infected, pneumonia-related effusion to a confirmed pleural infection have been well described in the scientific literature, but the route by which pathogenic organisms access the pleural space is poorly understood. Data suggests that not all pleural infections can be related to lung parenchymal infection. Studies examining the microbiological profile of pleural infection inform antibiotic choice and can help to delineate the source and pathogenesis of infection. The development of radiological methods and use of clinical indices to predict which patients with pleural infection will have a poor outcome, as well as inform patient selection for more invasive treatments, is particularly important. Randomised clinical trial and case series data have shown that the combination of an intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease therapy can potentially improve outcomes, but the use of this treatment as compared with surgical options has not been precisely defined, particularly in terms of when and in which patients it should be used.

Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of pleural effusions

We review the literature on the use of point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate and manage pleural effusions. Point-of-care ultrasound is more sensitive than physical exam and chest radiography to detect pleural effusions, and avoids many negative aspects of computerized tomography. Additionally, point-of-care ultrasound can assess pleural fluid volume and character, revealing possible underlying pathologies and guiding management. Thoracentesis performed with ultrasound guidance has lower risk of pneumothorax and bleeding complications. Future research should focus on the clinical effectiveness of point-of-care ultrasound in the routine management of pleural effusions and how new technologies may expand its clinical utility.

Ultrasound of the pleurae and lungs

The value of ultrasound techniques in examination of the pleurae and lungs has been underestimated over recent decades. One explanation for this is the assumption that the ventilated lungs and the bones of the rib cage constitute impermeable obstacles to ultrasound. However, a variety of pathologies of the chest wall, pleurae and lungs result in altered tissue composition, providing substantially increased access and visibility for ultrasound examination. It is a great benefit that the pleurae and lungs can be non-invasively imaged repeatedly without discomfort or radiation exposure for the patient. Ultrasound is thus particularly valuable in follow-up of disease, differential diagnosis and detection of complications. Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in patients with pathologic pleural and pulmonary findings can tolerably be performed under real-time ultrasound guidance. In this article, an updated overview is given presenting not only the benefits and indications, but also the limitations of pleural and pulmonary ultrasound.

Use of ultrasound to diagnose and manage a five-liter empyema in a rural clinic in sierra leone

We report the case of a dyspneic patient with a five-liter pleural empyema that was diagnosed and managed in a resource-limited clinic in a rural part of Sierra Leone. The diagnosis and management of this condition are usually guided by imaging modalities such as X-rays or CT scans. However, these resources may not be available in austere settings in developing countries. Because emergency physicians work in a variety of clinical settings, they should be well versed in the use of portable ultrasound machines to diagnose, treat, and manage many different conditions.

Management of pleural empyema with single-port video-assisted thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an original technique of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopy (S-VATS) for the minimally invasive treatment of pleural empyema in fibrinopurulent stage.

METHODS

Single-port video-assisted thoracoscopy was performed under general anesthesia and single-lung ventilation using a 2-cm incision after ultrasound localization of the projected midpoint of the pleural effusion. Through the single access, a video scope and standard thoracoscopy instruments were simultaneously introduced to perform debridement and lavage of the pleural cavity. Postoperatively, patients underwent continuous or intermittent pleural irrigation through the chest tube until microbiological confirmation of sterility of the pleural fluid.

RESULTS

Between November 2004 and December 2009, a total of 61 patients underwent S-VATS for pleural empyema in stage I (7%) or II (93%). Median age was 63.5 years (range, 22-94 years). Male-to-female ratio was 4.2. Surgery was performed 3 to 60 days after the onset of symptoms. Macroscopically complete debridement of the pleural cavity was achieved in most (98%) cases. Median operation time was 53 minutes (range, 29-90 minutes). No intraoperative complications occurred. In-hospital mortality and morbidity rates were 3% and 16%, respectively. Deaths were caused by diffuse metastatic colon cancer in one case and severe apoplectic insult in the other. Chest tube was removed after a median time of 12 days (range, 4-64 days). Four (6.5%) patients experienced a relapse of empyema; this was caused by complicated residual pleural space (two cases), persistent pleuropulmonary fistula (one case), or both (one case).

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that S-VATS is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of pleural empyema in fibrinopurulent stage.

Treatment of complicated pleural effusions in 2013

The incidence of pleural infection seems to be increasing worldwide. Despite continued advances in the management of this condition, morbidity and mortality have essentially remained static over the past decade. This article summarizes the current evidence and opinions on the epidemiology, etiology, and management of complicated pleural effusions caused by infection, including empyema. Although many parallels may be drawn between children and adults in such cases, most trials, guidelines, and series regard pediatric patient groups and those more than 18 years of age as separate entities. This review focuses mainly on the treatment of adult disease.

Predictive value of Doppler ultrasound in childhood pneumonia

This study aimed to determine the predictive value of intercostal and pulmonary artery Doppler flow patterns in the outcome of childhood pneumonia. Pneumonia was classified according to type of pleural effusion and the ultrasound features of consolidations. Doppler flow patterns of intercostal and pulmonary arteries were analysed and correlated with pneumonia type and hospital stay. Of 83 pneumonia cases, 55 were uncomplicated and 28 were complicated. Pleural effusion was present in 54 cases, with 29 non-septated and 25 septated cases. Patients with uncomplicated pneumonia did not have abnormal Doppler flow patterns, compared with 64% (18 of 28) of patients with complicated pneumonia. Doppler ultrasound patterns in childhood pneumonia were correlated with pneumonia type and may be predictive of pneumonia outcome.