Management of Empyema

Document Overview

Document Title

Management of Empyema

Authoring Society

American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Document Publication Date

Feb 4, 2017

Page Last Reviewed/Updated

May 5, 2026

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

United States

Full Text Freely Available

Yes

Full Text Guideline

www.jtcvs.org/article/S0022-5223(17)30152-6/fulltext

Source Citation

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery consensus guidelines for the management of empyema 
Shen, K. Robert et al.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 153, Issue 6, e129 - e146

Supplemental Implementation Resources

• Video

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives

To establish The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) evidence-based guidelines for the management of empyema.

Scope

Diagnosis, Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D004653 - Empyema

D016724 - Empyema, Pleural

D013354 - Empyema, Subdural

D004653 - Empyema

D016724 - Empyema, Pleural

D013354 - Empyema, Subdural

Keywords

bronchopleural fistula, empyema, lung disease, thoracic surgery, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult, Older Adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Hospital, Operating and Recovery Room

Intended Users

Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents

136

Includes peer/external review process?

Yes

Includes public comment process?

No

Methodologist involvement?

Yes

Patient involvement?

No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?

Yes

Includes systematic review?

Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?

Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?

Yes

Discloses funding source?

No

Discloses conflicts of interest?

No

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?

No