title: [Thoracoscopy: diagnostic and therapeutic use].
abstract: From 1986 to 1989, we performed 74 thoracoscopies in 70 patients (37 persisting or relapsing pneumothoraces, 30 chronic pleural effusions, 3 primary pleural tumors, 2 chylothoraces, 1 empyema, 1 persisting bronchopleural fistula). 29 supplementary diagnoses were established by thoracoscopy: 11 carcinomas, 4 cases of pleural tuberculosis, 12 of nonspecific pleurisy, 1 pleural fibroma, and 1 hamartoma. Pleurodesis was done with talc under thoracoscopy with success in 32/34 cases of pneumothorax (94%) and in 19/20 patient with chronic pleural effusion (95%). Talc was also successful in 2 instances of chylothorax and the bronchopleural fistula. The empyema was successfully treated by drainage under thoracoscopy and local instillation of streptokinase. Altogether, we recorded 3 deaths in the 30 days following thoracoscopy in 3 plurimetastatic patients. No other major complication was observed. The procedure is a well tolerated tool for diagnosis and treatment of pleural diseases. The indication should however be established with care in debilitated plurimetastatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Centre valaisan de pneumologie, Montana.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engeler
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
vernacular_title: Thoracoscopie: utilité diagnostique et thérapeutique.