Should Empyema with or without Necrotizing Pneumonia in Children Be Managed Differently?

Background: Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) is an increasing lung infection mostly associated with pleural empyema. Objectives: We aimed to compare children with empyema with and without concomitant NP, in terms of risk factors, management and outcome. Methods: We retrospectively included children hospitalized between 2005-2014 with empyema to whom a computed tomography was performed. We recorded patient characteristics, clinical, biological (blood and pleural fluid) and radiological findings, medical and surgical treatments, and clinical, radiological and functional follow-up. Results: 35 children with empyema were included, including 25 with a concomitant NP. Patients with or without NP were undistinguishable, in terms of characteristics, symptoms at admission or detected pathogens. Pleural leucocytes were significantly higher in the empyema group (p = 0.0002) as pleural LDH (p = 0.002), and pleural/blood LDH ratio (p = 0.0005). Medical and surgical managements were similar between both groups. Complications occurred in 1/10 children with empyema alone (pneumatocele) and 5/25 with concomitant NP (bronchopleural fistula (n = 3), lobectomy, pneumothorax). The hospital length of stay and delay for chest X-ray normalization were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Except for minor biological parameters, the presence of concomitant NP in case of empyema does not change the presentation, clinical features, management and outcome, suggesting that the presence of additional NP to empyema should not be managed differently. Therefore, in case of empyema with suspected concomitant NP, chest CT should probably be restricted to abnormal worsening or when mandatory for surgical treatment.

Pulmonary Perfusion Asymmetry in Patients after Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot: A 4D Flow MRI-Based Study

Background:Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot(rTOF)patients may have residual lesions such as main(MPA)and branch pulmonary artery stenosis(BPAS).While MPA stenosis is well studied,few data are available on BPAS in rTOF.We aimed to describe pulmonary perfusion in a large paediatric cohort of rTOF and its impact on right ventricular and outflow-tract hemodynamics using 4D flow CMR.Methods:130 consecutive patients(mean age at CMR 14.3±4.6 years)were retrospectively reviewed.96 patients had transannular patch without valve preservation while 34 patients had conserved annulus or valved conduit.A pulmonary blood flow ratio(right pulmonary artery(RPA)/left pulmonary artery(LPA))between 0.75 and 1.56 was considered normal.Results:Asymmetric pulmonary perfusion was present in 59/130 patients(45%),with 54/59(91%)having left lung hypoperfusion(blood flow ratio>1.56).RPA/LPA perfusion ratio in the whole cohort was independently associated with the LPA Z-score(−0.053,p=0.007),the RPA regurgitant fraction(RF)(0.013,p=0.011)and previous LPA stenting(0.648,p=0.004).Decreasing LPA%perfusion(and conversely increasing RPA%perfusion)was significantly associated with higher MPA diameter Z-score(−0.06,p=0.007).On multivariate analysis,MPA Z-score was independently associated with pulmonary RF(0.48,p<0.001)and with right ventricular indexed volumes(coefficient 3.6,p=0.023).In patients with transannular patch repair,asymmetric pulmonary flow was an independent predictor of right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF)(−3.66,p=0.04).Conclusions:Pulmonary perfusion asymmetry is frequent in rTOF and is associated with abnormal right ventricular and outflow-tract hemodynamics,including MPA dilatation and decreased RVEF in patients after transannular patch.