Results of treatment of lung cancer complicated by postoperative pleural empyema

An evaluation of the literature and our own experience with surgical and combined treatment of lung cancer complicated by postoperative pleural empyema established the following incidence rates in 2.4% of patients: postpneumonectomy (4.2%), particularly on the side (57.4%), and in tumor stage III cases (70.6%). Bronchal stump failure (89.7%) was the main cause of postoperative pleural empyema while the risk doubled (4.5-6.0%; p < or = 0.05) after neoadjuvant therapy. Both immediate and end results were worse in postoperative pleural empyema than in similar uncomplicated cases: 12 month survival--43.8% vs. 71.1%; 3-year--18.8-36.8%; 5-year--10.4-26.3%. Also, postoperative pleural empyema patients stayed in hospital longer.