title: Medical thoracoscopic removal of a metal needle from the pleural space.
abstract: Medical thoracoscopy is an excellent diagnostic and therapeutic tool for management of pleural diseases. There have been case reports of removal of foreign bodies from pleural spaces with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia by thoracic surgeons. We present a case of successful removal of an 8 cm long metal needle from the pleural space with single port medical semirigid thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia by a chest physician. Removal of a foreign body from the pleural space is one more indication for medical thoracoscopy, however, an experienced chest physician and proper case selection are very important for safety and a successful outcome of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Prince
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Balamugesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thangakunam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Devasahayam Jesudas
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Christopher
mesh_terms: D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013906:Thoracoscopy
chemical_list: D008670:Metals