MCQ – 84039

Treatment options for empyema include?

Correct Answer � A:B:C:D:E Explanation

Ans. A, B, C, D & E

When long-standing pleural empyema does not respond to adequate treatment with antibiotics and drainage and pus reaccumulates, talc can be used for pleurodesis.

This is applicable only up to the fibrinopurulent stage while the lung is still fully expandible, but is clearly contraindicated in the organizing or “chronic” stage.

For the sake of safety, we prefer not to use talc in the presence of living pathogenic microorganism