Empyema Necessitans and a Persistent Air Leak Associated with Rupture of an Anaerobic Lung Abscess Due to Bacteroides Varun Sharma,1 Kevin G Blyth1,2
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Thorax Online First, published on August 28, 2017 as 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 Chest clinic Thorax: first published as 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 on 28 August 2017. Downloaded from CASE BASED DISCUSSIONS Empyema necessitans and a persistent air leak associated with rupture of an anaerobic lung abscess due to bacteroides Varun Sharma,1 Kevin G Blyth1,2 INTRODUCTION a small left apical pneumothorax. A further repeat Here we report an unusual case of ruptured physical examination (6–8 hours post-admission) 1Pleural Disease Unit, Queen lung abscess, complicated by both a persistent air revealed classical features of subcutaneous emphy- Elizabeth University Hospital, leak and empyema necessitans. This combination sema, which had been absent on admission. Oxygen Glasgow, UK of problems, in a patient with significant co-mor- requirements increased to 60% and the patient was 2Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of bidities presented major diagnostic difficulties and transferred to the Medical High Dependency Unit Glasgow, Glasgow, UK challenging pleural intervention issues . The case (MHDU). Her antibiotics were changed to intrave- based discussion presented also highlights a number nous co-amoxiclav and oral clindamycin. A more Correspondence to of important learning points that can be generalised comprehensive skin examination revealed multiple Dr Varun Sharma, Department to the assessment and management of patients with tender, inflamed skin lesions in the axillae and on of Respiratory Medicine, Queen severe pleuro-pulmonary infections, including the the lateral aspects of the chest wall bilaterally, many Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow minority associated with an acute air-leak. of which were concealed beneath folds of adipose G51 4TF, UK; vsharma3@ nhs. tissue. CT scanning of thorax and abdomen was net requested and a surgical opinion. The differential CASE BASED DISCUSSIONS diagnosis at this time was recorded as Boerhaave’s Received 1 May 2017 Varun Sharma (VS): A morbidly obese (120 kg, body Revised 15 July 2017 syndrome, pneumonia or necrotising fasciitis Accepted 7 August 2017 mass index 49) 43-year-old female presented to secondary to HS complicated by a pleurocutaneous the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, fistula. obtunded and in acute respiratory distress. She Kevin G Blyth (KGB): The clinical presentation had been bed or chairbound for 2 years due to is most consistent with acute bacterial pneumonia chronic pain, primarily related to severe hidrade- with increasing oxygen requirements related to nitis suppurativa (HS). Other past medical history this. However, the development of rapidly evolving included poorly controlled Insulin-dependent type subcutaneous emphysema is highly concerning and Chest clinic http://thorax.bmj.com/ 2 diabetes mellitus (glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) must indicate rupture of a gas-containing structure level 107 mmol/mol on admission), asthma and in the thorax. Transfer to MHDU is entirely appro- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. She reported a priate and should include an early discussion with cough productive of large volumes of purulent, the patient, her family and critical care colleagues foul-smelling sputum and severe pain, particularly regarding the ceiling of care given her extensive localised to the axillae and lateral chest walls. The comorbidities and poor functional status. Boer- patient was tachycardic (147 bpm), tachypnoeic haave’s syndrome was first reported in 1724 and and hypoxic. Oxygen saturations were recorded describes acute, spontaneous, oesophageal rupture. on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. at 85% on air. Examination revealed accessory The term ‘spontaneous’ differentiates Boerhaave’s muscle use, reduced air entry, dullness to percus- from iatrogenic oesophageal rupture, which sion and bronchial breathing at the right lung base. accounts for 85%–90% of cases and both are asso- The patient did not tolerate a full skin examination ciated with high mortality.1 However, Boerhaave’s due to pain, and reported multiple drug allergies, syndrome typically includes a history of significant including suxamethonium and metronidazole, prior vomiting. In addition, the majority of adults but no penicillin allergy. Treatment for probable with Boerhaave’s present with left-sided pleuropul- community-acquired pneumonia was initiated monary complications,1 including (hydro-) pneu- (intravenous amoxicillin and oral clarithromycin) mothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous pending chest radiography. Initial laboratory inves- emphysema and pneumonia. The current case is not tigations revealed a C reactive protein level over typical of Boerhaave’s, since the clinical findings 300 mg/L and marked hypoalbuminaemia (14 g/L). appear bilateral and predominantly right sided, and Over the next few hours, the patient reported facial there is no history of prior vomiting. Necrotising swelling. On repeat clinical assessment, no stridor fasciitis complicating HS appears very unlikely, or airway compromise was noted. Antibiotic allergy given the absence of any skin defects associated was suspected, and intravenous hydrocortisone and with a visible or audible air leak. chlorphenamine were administered. However, her VS: CT imaging reported right lower lobe To cite: Sharma V, Blyth KG. Thorax Published Online First: facial swelling worsened and a chest radiograph, consolidation, an adjacent right hydropneu- [please include Day Month acquisition of which has been delayed, revealed mothorax and a left apical pneumothorax (see Year]. doi:10.1136/ significant subcutaneous emphysema, right-sided figure 1A). The upper lobe of the right lung was thoraxjnl-2017-210462 pleural effusion, right lower zone consolidation and fully inflated. Extensive subcutaneous emphysema Sharma V, Blyth KG. Thorax 2017;0:1–3. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 1 Copyright Article author (or their employer) 2017. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (& BTS) under licence. Chest clinic Thorax: first published as 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 on 28 August 2017. Downloaded from Chest clinic http://thorax.bmj.com/ on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Figure 1 CT images (lung settings (A), mediastinal settings (B) acquired in a female patient with empyema necessitans (EN) and a persistent air leak related to a ruptured right lower lobe lung abscess. Extensive subcutaneous emphysema is highlighted in panel A (white asterix), which also shows right lower lobe lung consolidation (black arrow), an adjacent hydropneumothorax, a small left pneumothorax and a pneumomediastinum. Panel B shows a defect in the parietal pleura and subpleural tissues (white arrow), resulting in discharge of infected pleural fluid into the subcutaneous tissues (EN, white asterix). was confirmed on both sides of the chest, extending into the bubbling, and no significant volume of pleural fluid had been neck and associated with pneumomediastinum. A gastrograffin drained. The two recent CT scans were reviewed. The second swallow 24 hours after MHDU admission failed to identity an CT (acquired during left-sided drain insertion) revealed an unre- oesophageal leak, making Boerhaave’s syndrome unlikely. With ported new defect in the lateral surface of the parietal pleura and the diagnosis uncertain and the patient’s subcutaneous emphy- a modest increase in the size of the right effusion (see figure 1b). sema worsening, a left apical 12F intercostal drain (ICD) was A diagnosis of empyema necessitans (EN) was made, likely asso- sited under CT guidance on day 3 of the admission. A referral ciated with a ruptured right lower lobe lung abscess. Incidentally, was made to the pleural disease team on day 4. a risk factor supporting this is the patient’s poor diabetic control. KGB: At first review on day 4, the patient was tachypnoeic Given the declining clinical situation, immediate insertion of and in pain, despite strong opiate analgesia. Intravenous sedation a large bore ICD was deemed necessary for air-leak control. was being used for distress related to expanding subcutaneous However, the patient’s body habitus, the extent of her HS and emphysema, which was now precluding eye-opening and verbal subcutaenous emphysema suggested that this would be techni- communication. Oxygen saturations were 94% on a non-re- cally challenging, and would require additional sedation. The breathing trauma mask. The left-sided ICD was swinging but not risks associated with this were explained to the patient and her 2 Sharma V, Blyth KG. Thorax 2017;0:1–3. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 Chest clinic Thorax: first published as 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210462 on 28 August 2017. Downloaded from husband, who provided informed written consent. Intensive care considered in patients presenting late with severe pulmonary or agreed to admit the patient if her respiratory function deterio- pleural infection, particularly if severe chest pain is reported. rated further during large bore drain insertion. The patient was Second, earlier review by a respiratory specialist with experi- placed into the left lateral decubitus position and sedated using ence in complex pleural disease may have led to a less fraught bolused intravenous midazolam (13 mg in total over 50 min). definitive drainage procedure than was ultimately necessary. After extensive blunt dissection, the parietal pleura was eventu- Specifically, an early although technically challenging diagnostic ally opened and a 24F ICD placed to the right apex.