Pulmonary function in children previously treated with empyema

Abstract

Introduction: Empyema is an exudative type pleural effusion secondary to lung infections. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are used in measuring the function and volume of the lungs, diagnosing and grading diseases, and evaluating the response to treatment. Our aim was to evaluate pulmonary function in patients previously treated with empyema and compare it with age-matched healthy controls. Materials and methods: This is a controlled cross-sectional study evaluating the PFTs in twenty-one children previously managed for empyema and 40 controls. Spirometry and lung clearence index (LCI) tests were used to compare both groups. Demographic data, history of previous lung disease, physical examination findings, diagnostic method and treatment regimens were recorded. Results: Of the 21 patients, 7 (33.3%) were female and 14 (66.6%) were male. The mean age was 9.4 ±4.5 years. The most common presentation findings were high fever (95.2%), tachypnea (85.7%) and cough (85.7%). Empyema was on bilateral lungs in 9 (42.9%) patients, on the right in 8 (38.1%) patients and on the left in 4 (19%) patients. In spirometric examination, the mean forced expiratory volume (FEV1) % predicted was 93.76 ±11.78%, the mean FEV1 z score was -0.24 ±0.79 and no significant spirometric disorder was observed. The mean LCI value of the patients was 7.50 ±0.72, which was significantly higher than the control group (6.97 ±0.75) (p: 0.003). Conclusion: In the long-term follow-up of patients with empyema, airway disease that could not be detected by spirometry developed and LCI method was found to be superior to spirometry in detecting airway diseases.