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Pleural Empyema Following Liver Resection: A Rare But Serious Complication

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Abstract

Background

Postoperative pleural empyema following liver resection has not been thoroughly described in the literature yet. Hence, we aimed to describe characteristics of patients experiencing this complication.

Methods

Characteristics and outcomes of 21 patients who developed pleural empyema after hepatectomy, defined as a bacteriologically proven pleural infection with clinical and biological inflammatory signs requiring antibiotherapy and thoracic drainage, from 2001 to 2014, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Overall incidence of pleural empyema was 1 %. Nineteen (90.5 %) patients underwent right or extended right hepatectomy. All 21 patients developed postoperatively pleural effusion and 13 (62 %) infected abdominal collection. They had significantly more bile leakage and intra-abdominal abscesses compared to a matched control group of patients undergoing a right hepatectomy. Accidental diaphragmatic opening was observed in six patients (intra-operatively n = 4, transdiaphragmatic abdominal drainage n = 2). Treatment included percutaneous pleural drainage and in six (29 %) patients a thoracotomy for surgical drainage. Three patients (14 %) died due to sepsis and multiorgan failure. No patient treated by thoracotomy died postoperatively.

Conclusion

Postoperative pleural empyema is a rare but serious complication occurring mostly after right hepatectomy complicated with intraabdominal sepsis. Pleural paracentesis for diagnosis and treatment should be rapidly considered. Early thoracotomy for optimal drainage would reduce postoperative mortality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Beaujon Hospital, 100 bd du Général Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France

    Claire Goumard, David Fuks, François Cauchy, Jacques Belghiti & Olivier Soubrane

  2. Department of Hepato-Digestive Intensive Care Unit, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France

    Catherine Paugam-Burtz

  3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France

    Yves Castier

Authors
  1. Claire Goumard
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  2. David Fuks
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  3. François Cauchy
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  4. Jacques Belghiti
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  5. Catherine Paugam-Burtz
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  6. Yves Castier
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  7. Olivier Soubrane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Soubrane.

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Conflicts of interest

Claire Goumard, David Fuks, François Cauchy, Jacques Belghiti, Catherine Paugam-Burtz, Yves Castier, and Olivier Soubrane have no conflict of interest.

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Goumard, C., Fuks, D., Cauchy, F. et al. Pleural Empyema Following Liver Resection: A Rare But Serious Complication. World J Surg 40, 2999–3008 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-016-3657-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-016-3657-0

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