A patient has been diagnosed with an empyema. What does the healthcare professional tell the patient about this condition?
A)We will have to drain the pus out of your pleural space.
B)You will be given a long course of antiviral medication.
C)These blebs in your lungs can rupture with exercise.
D)We will watch you for respiratory muscle fatigue.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Empyema is the presence of pus in the pleural space. The usual treatment is drainage of the pleural space with a chest tube and administration of antibiotics (not antivirals). Blebs are the cause of some cases of spontaneous pneumothorax and they can rupture with exercise. Respiratory muscle fatigue may develop with empyema, but this is a vague finding not directly related to empyema.

A Patient Has Been Diagnosed with an Empyema