Medical Thoracoscopy

Sameer K Avasarala; Robert J Lentz; Fabien Maldonado

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2021.08.010

Medical Thoracoscopy

Clin Chest Med. 2021 Dec;42(4):751-766. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.08.010.

Authors

Sameer K Avasarala¹, Robert J Lentz², Fabien Maldonado³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/SKAvasarala.
² Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, T-1218 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, T-1218 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/RobJLentz.
³ Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, T-1218 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, T-1218 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34774180
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.08.010

Abstract

Medical thoracoscopy is an effective and safe modality to visualize and sample contents of the pleural cavity. It is an outpatient procedure that can be performed while the patient is spontaneously breathing, with the use of local anesthesia and intravenous medications for sedation and analgesia. Medical thoracoscopy has indications in the management of a variety of pleural diseases. It is most commonly performed as a diagnostic procedure but has therapeutic applications as well. Although it has its advantages, management strategies of certain pleural diseases should take place within a multidisciplinary environment including general pulmonologists, interventional pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.

Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma; Medical thoracoscopy; Pleural effusion; Pleurodesis; Pleuroscopy; Pneumothorax.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Pleural Diseases* / diagnosis
Pleural Diseases* / therapy
Pleural Effusion* / diagnosis
Pleural Effusion* / therapy
Thoracoscopy