Empyema is a collection of pus in an existing body cavity, often caused by infection, surgery, or chronic inflammation. Treatment involves draining the pus and addressing the underlying cause. The longer it goes untreated, the worse the potential complications, including inflammation and tissue thickening. The most common place for empyema to develop is the pleural space around the lungs.
An empyema is a deposit of pus within an existing body cavity. This condition is similar in nature to an abscess and may be associated with the same risk factors, but an abscess creates a new pocket or cavity in the body, while empyema is pus that naturally flows into an existing space within the body. body. Treatment usually includes placing tubes for drainage along with the administration of medications to address the underlying cause of the condition and make the patient more comfortable.
Infection, surgery, and chronic inflammation are three common causes of empyema. People at risk of this condition may be monitored closely by their care providers, and treatment of problems such as infection and inflammation is recommended as soon as possible to help patients avoid complications such as empyema. Patients recovering from surgery are provided with information about potential surgical complications and symptoms so they know how to identify complications and seek treatment.
The most common place for an empyema to develop is the pleural space, the area around the lungs. People with lung infections may experience pus oozing into the pleural space, resulting in the development of empyema. Symptoms vary by location, but can include pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. A medical imaging study will show the collection of pus and provide insight into how much pus is present. Tests may also be done to look for the cause and determine how long pus has been accumulating inside the patient.
Surgical drainage of the site is usually recommended to drain pus and create an outlet for further pus to drain in the early stages of healing. Once the pus has drained, the pressure within the body cavity has decreased and the patient should feel less distressed. Antibiotics and other medications may be given to the patient to treat the infection that led to the pus buildup in the first place, and once new pus stops forming, the drains may be removed to allow the site to heal.
The longer an empyema goes untreated, the worse the potential complications are for the patient. Pus deposits can lead to inflammation of the tissue around the body cavity and can contribute to thickening of the tissue. In an area like the pleural cavity, this can make the lungs less elastic and cause long-term problems such as difficulty breathing and increased susceptibility to lung infections in the future.
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