Background: Chronic empyema thoracis is a debilitating illness with high morbidity and, and is seen among all age groups.
Objective: To review all cases of chronic empyema thoracis treated by lung decortication and highlight the outcome In addition to that, residues of the empyema had responsible for general malaise, septicemia. Also, some authors reported critical of oxygen uptake in the atelectatic lung, which resolved critical after re-expansion.
Materials and Method: 86 patients with chronic empyema thoracis were admitted and managed in our thoracic surgery unit who underwent surgery of lung decortication through postrolateral thoracotomy .
Results: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) , FEV1 and FVC were significantly increased in postoperative than preoperative . There had significant improvement in the pre, post values of the lung volumn on the diseased side and both lungs.
.Conclusion: Lung decortication is followed by a significant improvement in Spirometric parameters,CT fiindings.