Observation Patients
pleural infection, fever, empyema, deaths, leukocytosis
PLEURAL EFFUSION, ALEUKOCYTOSIS, PLEURAL INFECTION, DENTAL ABSCESS, COMPLICATION, PARAPNEUMONIC EFFUSION, EMPYEMA, ACUTE HYPOXIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE
There were 6 patients in the observation group. Their median RAPID score was 3 (IQR, 2-4), and 4 (67%) had a complicated pleural infection vs 2 (33%) who had an empyema. During observation, 2 patients (33%) were given additional treatment for radiographic persistent pleural fluid collections; neither had a fever or leukocytosis at the time of additional treatment. Both patients received IPFT; one patient had a single dose and the other had 3 doses. Protocol image 1 for both of these patients was chest radiography.Only 1 patient (17%) had a complication (grade II): a dental abscess. The median duration of chest tube use was 4 (IQR, 3-6) days, and the median hospital length of stay was 10 (IQR, 7-13) days. One patient (17%) who required additional treatment was readmitted within 30 days with a persistent parapneumonic effusion, a new contralateral pleural effusion, and acute hypoxic respiratory failure. The patient underwent chest tube placement and 3 doses of IPFT. There were no 30- or 90-day deaths in the observation group.