DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Empyema remains a prevalent issue in both developed and developing regions. Pulmonary infections, thoracic trauma, surgical procedures, and tuberculosis (TB) accounted for the majority of empyema thoracis cases.
Objective: The current investigation was conducted to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with empyema thoracis at a tertiary healthcare facility.Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted on 78 empyema thoracis patients present to the Department of Internal Medicine at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from July 2020 to September 2021. Individuals diagnosed with empyema thoracis irrespective of their causes were enrolled. Clinical features, comorbidities and outcomes were evaluated. Results: The overall mean age of the patients was 42.68 ± 8.32 years with an age range of 20 to 75 years. There were 48 (61.5%) male and 30 (38.5%) females. The age distribution of patients was as follows: 40 (51.3%) in 20-45 years, 31 (39.7%) in 46 - 60 years, and 7 (9.0%) in 61-75 years. The prevailing symptom most frequently observed upon presentation was breathlessness 28 (35.9%), followed by chest pain 22 (28.2%) and fever 18 (23.1%). Pneumonia and diabetes mellitus were the most prevalent risk factors of empyema thoracis found in 25 (32.1%) and 17 (21.8%) cases. Conclusion: The present study observed a higher prevalence of empyema thoracis in developing nations like Pakistan. Breathlessness and chest pain were the most prevalent symptoms of empyema thoracis. Among these cases, tubercular empyema's, which is most frequently encountered in young adults, represents a a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality