Thoracoscopy in the diagnosis and management of recurrent pleural effusions.
Between April 1984 and July 1988, 102 patients with persistent or recurrent pleural effusions investigated by conventional methods in whom a diagnosis had not been achieved were submitted to thoracoscopy under general anesthesia. A positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.3% of the patients. The procedure was well tolerated, and although some of these were seriously ill patients, there were no procedure-related deaths.
Hucker
J
J
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, England.
Bhatnagar
N K
NK
al-Jilaihawi
A N
AN
Forrester-Wood
C P
CP
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013396:Suction; D013906:Thoracoscopy