CompletedNot Applicable

The Role of Decortication in Complex Empyema Cases: Multidrug Resistance and Tuberculosis at the Forefront

Pakistan350 participantsStarted 2022-01-01

Plain-language summary

Empyema is a problem that thoracic surgeons deal in everyday practice. The main goal of treatment is evacuating the pus and fibrin deposits in the thoracic cavity for complete lung expansion. This study aims to report a detailed microbiological profile of patients operated for empyema thoracis and also correlate it with perioperative clinical outcomes. Patients who underwent surgery for empyema thoracis between January 2022 to June 2025 were included in the study. This study was carried out at two centers; Thoracic Surgery Department, Services Hospital Lahore. Patients were taken up for surgery after thorough preoperative evaluation. Perioperative outcomes were correlated with the results of microbiological analysis to evaluate their effect on clinical outcomes. This study highlights the emergence of Gram-negative organisms in bacterial empyema and emergence of multidrug resistance in tubercular empyema. Clinical outcome correlation revealed increased complications in culture-positive cases in both tubercular and nontubercular empyemas

Who can participate

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients diagnosed with pleural empyema based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological confirmation. * Patients who underwent surgical decortication for complicated or refractory empyema. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with non-infectious pleural effusions (e.g., malignant pleural effusion, hemothorax, or chylothorax). * Empyema cases resolved with medical management alone (antibiotics and/or chest tube drainage) without requiring surgical intervention. * Patients with severe systemic conditions (e.g., end-stage organ failure, terminal malignancy) where empyema management was not the primary therapeutic focus.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

expansion of lung

Timeframe: post-operative day 03 and day 30.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07167823

SponsorUniversity of Health Sciences Lahore

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Pleural Empyema trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.