Residual Hemothorax after Chest Tube Placement Correlates with Increased Risk of Empyema Following Traumatic Injury

BACKGROUND: Empyema complicates tube thoracostomy following trauma in up to 10% of cases. Studies of potential risk factors of empyema have included use of antibiotics, site of injury and technique of chest tube placement. Residual fluid has also been cited as a risk factor for empyema, although the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Riyad Karmy-Jones, Michele Holevar, Ryan J Sullivan, Ani Fleisig, Gregory J Jurkovich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2008-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/918951