The  aim  of  study  is  to  report the  indications  and results  of  lung decortication at  CHU  Yalgado Ouedraogo. It is a retrospective study including all the patients who underwent lung decorticaion at CHU Yalgado Ouedraogo from May 2005 to March 2008. Lung decortication accounted for 50% of thoracotomies carried out for this period. 10 women and 6 men with an average age of 37 years old were concerning by this surgery. Para pneumonic empyema accounted for 56% of the indications. All patients were operated at the 3th stage evolution of the empyema after failure of antibiotic and chest succion. The average duration of surgery was 160 minutes. Blood transfusion was necessary in 60 % of the cases. Operative early post-operative mortality was zero. The average duration of suction was 5 days. The follow up showed a satisfactory pulmonary expansion in 75% of the cases. Lung decortication is the most frequent procedure in thoracic surgery in our centre without any early deaths. To reduce its indications implies a fast and effective management of pleural empyema.

 

Key words: lung decortication - empyema