Data collection
infection, empyema, pleural empyema
THORACIC, INFECTION, CAVITY, EMPYEMA, PLEURAL EMPYEMA
All patients undergoing FlexVATS for pleural empyema at the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery at the University Medical Centre, Hamburg, Germany from February 2021 to August 2022 were included in a prospective database. All patients with a laboratory verified (via aspiration or drainage placement) and limited pleural empyema regardless of its origin were screened for the treatment modality. Preferably multi-morbid patients were included after an extensive explanation of the procedure and its potential advantages and disadvantages, and explicit consent was obtained from all subjects. All procedures were performed by or under the direct supervision of a senior surgeon (MT).The medical records of all participating patients were retrospectively analysed. Preoperative demographic data, comorbidities, and causes of empyema of each patient were recorded. Postoperative outcomes, including morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and pre- and post-treatment empyema cavity volume, as measured by CT-volumetry, were investigated. The LOS and mortality were compared with data from our historical cohort of patients treated with VATS or open thoracotomy.The primary endpoint of the study was therapeutic success rate, as defined by infection resolution and no need for further empyema-related medical or surgical treatment following FlexVATS treatment.