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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07137507

Comparison of Lung Expansion After Uniportal and Multiportal Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Stage II Post Pneumonic Bacterial Empyema Thoracis

It was a parallel-armed randomized control study in which 160 participants admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Department, Services Hospital, Lahore were included. The participants were divided into two equal groups (80 in each group). Uniportal Group participants underwent uniportal video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), while multiportal Group participants were treated with multiportal video assisted thoracic surgery(VATS). Simple consecutive sampling was carried out. Expansion of lung was evaluated postoperatively at the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 15th postoperative day by chest radiograph after uniportal and multiportal VATS.

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Key information

Conditions

Empyema, Pleural Empyema Infections Inflammation Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pleural Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Suppuration Thoracic Empyema

Age range

18 year–73 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Services Institute Of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

About this study

Empyema is a problem that thoracic surgeons deal in everyday practice. The main goal of treatment is evacuating the pus and fibrin deposits in the thoracic cavity for complete lung expansion. Traditionally, the surgical approach was open thoracotomy; then the multiportal video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach became more common. Recently, more surgeons are adopting the uniportal VATS approach, which has become a powerful surgical tool, for the treatment of stage II empyema.

Uniportal and multiportal VATS are a feasible technique in all patients with pleural empyema requiring surgery. In this study, the investigators observed comparable postoperative success rates, no need for conversion, and successful completion of decortication via both multiportal and uniportal approaches. This transition to a single-incision technique was associated with fewer chest tubes, minimal surgical trauma, and no compromise in clinical outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with stage II empyema
  • More than 18 years old patients deemed fit for intervention.
  • Both genders
  • Unintubated patients

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with stages I and III empyema
  • Patient with TB empyema
  • Patient with Fungal empyema
  • Patients unfit for general anesthesia.
  • Unwilling to participate

Treatment and study plan

Uniportal VATS

Procedure

Decortication of pleural empyema is done using single-port VATS

Multi-portal VATS

Procedure

Decortication of pleural empyema is done using two or more ports with VATS

Primary outcomes

  1. complete lung expansion after decortication

    Time frame: 15 days

    Complete expansion of lung after Uniportal or Multiportal VATS was defined as, no residual pneumothorax or fluid collection on the chest radiograph, post - operatively. Lung expansion after surgery will be measured in percentages by calculating percentage of residual pneumothorax or fluid collection and was assessed using chest X-ray. Chest x-rays were performed on post-operative day 1, 3, 7 and 15. Physiologically normal and completely expanded lung is the set parameter for checking and comparing the expansion of operated lung after decortication.

Secondary outcomes

  1. post-operative thoracotomy site pain

    Time frame: 07 days

    Recording of post-operative thoracotomy pain at the site of uniportal or multiportal VATS was also assessed on post-operative day 1, 3 and 7. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a simple, widely used tool for measuring pain intensity. It consists of a straight line, usually 10 cm in length, with two endpoints:

    "0" = no pain "10" (or 100) = worst imaginable pain The patient marks a point on the line that best represents their perceived pain level. The score is then measured in millimeters or centimeters from the "no pain" end, giving a numerical value for pain intensity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Health Sciences Lahore

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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