Empyema is a frequent complication in children hospitalised with pneumonia. Parenchymal changes have been demonstrated on chest radiographs and chest CT scans in empyema,1 and it is plausible that functional outcome may be affected. Studies that have used spirometry in children of school age to assess function following empyema have largely demonstrated normal lung function.2 The ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan has been used occasionally in follow-up,3 but evidence is lacking as to its value in this context.

We retrospectively reviewed V/Q scans of eight children originally recruited as part of a published study comparing video-assisted thoracoscopic drainage (VATS) with percutaneous chest drain …