Open-window thoracostomy in empyema thoracis: A retrospective review.

Key Points

• Open-window thoracostomy is a safe procedure for empyema thoracis cases unresponsive to closed drainage.
• Effective preoperative planning is essential in managing patient expectations and outcomes during this intervention.
• This retrospective review indicates that open-window thoracostomy can yield favorable results with proper execution.
• Patient counseling significantly influences overall satisfaction and success of the procedure in such complex cases.

Abstract