[The value of medical thorascopy].
OBJECTIVE
To study the practicality and feasibility for a physician to diagnose and treat pleural diseases through thoracoscopy.


METHODS
To perform open thoracoscopy on 345 patients with a fibrobronchoscope or a hard thoracoscope under local anesthesia and evaluate the safety and tolerance of patients during the operation.


RESULTS
(1) Determination of etiology: in 92.7% (227/245 cases) of pleural effusion cases, 75.0% (69/92) of pneumothorax cases, etiologic causes have been determined and 8 cases of pleural tumors were diagnosed. (2) Therapeutic effectiveness: the response rate of malignant pleural effusions was 78.4% (80/102 cases), the cure rate of pneumothorax was 81.5% (75/92 cases) and for empyema, the cure rate was 92.9% (26/28 cases). (3) SAFETY: during operation the ECG, SaO(2), BP, R, P of 98 patients did not show important changes. In 345 patients, 4.3% (15/345) complained a fransceis cheot stiffin. 7% (24/345) showed sinus tachycardia.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Through thoracoscopy, we can observe the whole pleural cavity and can take biopsy specimen under direct observation. It is a good method to get the etiological diagnosis in cause-underdetermined pleural diseases. (2) It is effective and practical to treat difficult pleural effusion, the obstinate pneumothorax, or one that is not suitable for thoracic surgery. (3) It is safe and simple to apply the thoracoscopy under local anesthesia.
Xue
L
L
Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250021, China.
Su
L
L
Liu
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004653:Empyema / Q000175:diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome