Surgery>>>>>Patient Safety
Question 19#

The most common cause of an empyema in the postoperative patient is:

A. Pneumonia
B. Systemic sepsis
C. Esophageal perforation
D. Retained hemothorax

Correct Answer is A

Comment:

One of the most debilitating infections is an empyema, or infection of the pleural space. Frequently, an overwhelming pneumonia is the source of an empyema, but a retained hemothorax, systemic sepsis, esophageal perforation from any cause, and infections with a predilection for the lung (eg, tuberculosis) are potential etiologies as well.