The Volume of Thoracic Irrigation Is Associated With Length of Stay in Patients With Traumatic Hemothorax.

INTRODUCTION: Irrigation of the thoracic cavity at tube thoracostomy (TT) placement may decrease the rate of a retained hemothorax (RHTX); however, other resource utilization outcomes have not yet been quantified. This study evaluated the association of thoracic irrigation during TT with the length of stay and outcomes in patients with traumatic hemothorax (HTX). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of adult patients receiving a TT for HTX at a single, urban Level 1 Trauma Center from January 2019 to December 2020. Those who underwent irrigation during TT at the discretion of the trauma surgeon were compared to a control of standard TT without irrigation. Death within 30 d, as well as TTs, placed at outside hospitals, during traumatic arrest or thoracic procedures, and for isolated pneumothoraces were excluded. The primary outcome was the length of stay as hospital-free, ICU-free, and ventilator-free days (30-day benchmark). Subgroup analysis by irrigation volume was conducted using one-way ANOVA testing with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Eighty-two (41.4%) of 198 patients underwent irrigation during TT placement. Secondary interventions, thoracic infections, and TT duration were not statistically different in the irrigated cohort. Hospital-free and ICU-free days were higher in the irrigated patients than in the controls. Groups irrigated with ≥1000 mL had significant more hospital-free days (P = 0.007) than those receiving less than 1000 mL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with traumatic HTX who underwent thoracic irrigation at the time of TT placement had decreased hospital and ICU days compared to standard TT placement alone. Specifically, our study demonstrated that patients irrigated with a volume of at least 1000 mL had greater hospital-free days compared to those irrigated with less than 1000 mL.

Thoracic irrigation prevents retained hemothorax: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Upward of 20% of patients undergoing thoracostomy tube (TT) placement develop retained hemothorax (HTx) requiring secondary intervention. The aim of this study was to define the rate of secondary intervention in patients undergoing prophylactic thoracic irrigation. METHODS: A prospective observational trial of 20 patients who underwent thoracic irrigation at the time of TT placement was conducted. Patients with HTx identified on chest x-ray were included. After standard placement of a 36-French TT, the HTx was evacuated using a sterile suction catheter advanced within the TT. Warmed sterile saline was instilled into the chest through the TT followed by suction catheter evacuation. The TT was connected to the sterile drainage atrium and suction applied. TTs were managed in accordance with our standard division protocol. RESULTS: The population was predominantly (70%) male at median age 35 years, median ISS 13, with 55% suffering penetrating trauma. Thirteen (65%) patients underwent TT placement within 6 h of trauma with the remainder within 24 h. Nineteen patients received the full 1000-mL irrigation. The majority demonstrated significant improvement on postprocedure chest x-ray. The secondary intervention rate was 5%. A single patient required VATS on post-trauma day zero for retained HTx. Median TT duration was 5 d with median length of stay of 7 d. No adverse events related to the pleural lavage were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic irrigation at the time of TT placement for traumatic HTx may decrease the rate of retained HTx.

A Case Report of Histoplasma-Associated Empyema Treated With Intravenous Injection and Local Thoracic Irrigation of Amphotericin B Plus Medical Thoracoscopy.

Cases of empyema associated with Histoplasma infection are rarely reported. Here, we discuss a case of Histoplasma-associated empyema successfully treated with amphotericin B intravenous and pleural infusion therapy and multiple medical thoracoscopies. A 57-year-old Chinese woman with preexisting diabetes mellitus and gastric cancer had massive left-sided pleural effusion diagnosed by chest computed tomography. Her pleural effusion was purulent through pleural catheter drainage, and the culture of the pleural fluid showed Escherichia coli and Streptococcus constellation. Histopathology of the thoracoscopic pleural biopsy after hexamine silver and PAS staining supported Histoplasma infection. The patient was treated with intravenous injection and local thoracic irrigation of amphotericin B and continuous oral administration of itraconazole. At the same time, the patient received thoracic cannulation, daily thoracic lavage and thoracoscopy for purulent and necrotic tissue removal three times during hospitalization. The patient's pleural effusion and necrotic tissue in the pleural cavity were significantly reduced in a short time, and the clinical symptoms were significantly improved. After discharge, the patient recovered well and had no obvious complications or sequelae. Intravenous injection and local thoracic irrigation of amphotericin B are safe and effective drug therapies to treat fungal-associated empyema such as Histoplasma. Medical thoracoscopy effectively shortens the recovery time of empyema, improving the prognosis and reducing complications.