title: Homemade talc spray atomizer dedicated to flexible-rigid pleuroscope.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracoscopic talc poudrage is the preferred technique for medical pleurodesis. However, commercial talc spray atomizers are not applicable with the flexible-rigid pleuroscope. Therefore, we developed a simple and cheap homemade talc spray atomizer dedicated to flexible-rigid pleuroscope.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience in performing talc poudrage using our homemade talc spray atomizer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed in 22 consecutive patients with symptomatic malignant pleural effusion undergoing thoracoscopic talc poudrage by our talc spray atomizer with the aim of performing a palliative pleurodesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under direct flexible-rigid pleuroscopic guidance, we could instill talc throughout the pleural cavity with our talc spray atomizer in all cases. The median procedure time to instill the whole talc was 4 min 15 s. The successful pleurodesis was achieved in 77.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have introduced a homemade talc spray atomizer dedicated to the flexible-rigid pleuroscope. Uniform distribution of talc could be achieved without additional port placement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. bss-vb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Viboon
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boonsarngsuk
authors.forename: Sabaithip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juthakarn
authors.forename: Wison
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boonsarngsuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000628:therapy; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013627:Talc / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013906:Thoracoscopy
chemical_list: D013627:Talc