Abstract

Postoperative empyema is the infection of entire pleural structures following surgical procedures of different nature. The prevalence of empyema after surgery is reported to be 2-16%. Postoperative empyema is the second most common cause of empyema and constitutes 20% of all empyema cases. Empyema following surgery can develop after pulmonary resections and thoracic or extrathoracic extra-pulmonary surgical interventions. The difference between two groups is that in the empyemas that develop following pulmonary resections, there is the problem of pleural space. This is the foundation for the treatment differences between the two groups. In this article, we aimed to discuss the empyemas that develop following pulmonary resection and pleural space problems that accompany them. It can appear early postoperative period or late postoperative period due to various etiological agents. Symptoms and findings can be in a wide spectrum. For this reason, the possibility of empyema should be kept in mind for all patients, underwent a resection. As thoracentesis can be a route for spreading the infection into the thoracal cavity, we should avoid performing it in the early postoperative period. However, if clinical findings are directing as to the diagnosis of empyema, thoracentesis will inevitably be performed. If empyema is diagnosed following pulmonary resection, treatment protocol is based upon pleural drainage, antibiotherapy and the closure of the pleural space.