title: Redo medical thoracoscopy is feasible in patients with pleural diseases - a series.
abstract: Previous pleural endoscopy is considered to be a relative contraindication to further medical thoracoscopy. We reviewed our experience in patients undergoing more than one thoracoscopy irrespective of the primary indication. From January 2001 to December 2006, patient baseline characteristics, endoscopic appearance and technique, volume of pleural fluid and final histological diagnosis were collated in all patients undergoing more than one thoracoscopy. The endpoints were morbidity and mortality related to the procedures, to compare the length of procedure time between pleural endoscopies in individual patients and the degree of difficulty of the second or subsequent thoracoscopic procedure. During this period, 29 patients underwent 'redo' thoracoscopy resulting in a total of 61 procedures (rate of 'redo' thoracoscopy; 9.1%). The mean time between thoracoscopies was 5.3+/-3.8 months. Although pleural adhesions were more common at the time of the subsequent procedure, it did not result in failure to induce a pneumothorax or perform the procedure. There was no difference in the duration of procedure between the primary and subsequent thoracoscopy (P=0.46), as well as no complications directly attributed to the repeat pleural endoscopy. Repeat medical thoracoscopy is technically feasible in patients with pleural disease without an associated increased morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine (Université de la Méditerranée), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraticelli
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greillier
authors.forename: Sugamya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallawathantri
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astoul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome