Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the most common diseases in children, and pleural effusion is a potential complication, especially in developing countries, where there are limitations in diagnostic and therapeutic resources.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to know the profile of the children presenting pleural effusions complicating pneumonia analyzing their evolution regarding the clinical and surgical treatment instituted.
Methods: A descriptive, transversal, prospective survey, which studied all children admitted in a Brazilian hospital which is reference in infectious diseases with diagnosis of parapneumonic effusion, submitted to surgery because of this complication, in the period between October of 2010 and October of 2011.
Results: The sample was composed by 46 children, mostly younger than 3 years old (74%). A significant part of the sample (28%) had some nutritional inadequacy. The mean of disease duration until the ingress was 16,9 days, the whole sample came from other hospitals. The means of duration of hospital length and febrile state were, 26,0 and 9,8 days, respectively. It was used a media of 2,2 antibiotic schemes, and Ceftriaxone was the most drug most used. Etiological diagnosis was achieved in one single case. In 22 patients, (47,8%), it was observed empyema pleural, and they had a longer drainage duration. It was attested association between stunting and multiple surgeries (G Test = 8,40; p = 0,040). The majority of the children (80,4%) was submitted to surgery just once. The closed thoracic drainage was the most common surgery (85%). The open thoracocentesis was used in 24,0% of the children. The thoracotomy was performed in 2 patients (4,0%). All patients were clinical and radiological reestablished within 4 months after the hospital discharge, and there were not deceases in this sample.
Conclusion: the sample studied has advanced disease and common nutritional disturbs, which may influence in surgical evolution. It is necessary antibiotic therapy standardization. Pleurostomy is still a valid option, and new studies are demanded in order to reconsider it, mainly in centers where videothoracoscopy is unavailable.
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