The utility of thoracic ultrasound before local anesthetic video-assisted thoracoscopy in patients with suspected pleural malignancy
✍ Scribed by Andrew R. L. Medford
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 265 KB
- Volume
- 38
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0091-2751
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Video‐assisted thoracoscopy under local anesthesia (VAT‐LA) is a key investigation in the diagnosis and management of suspected malignant pleural effusion. Two problems encountered at VAT‐LA are accessing the pleural space and fibrinous intrapleural septa. Thoracic sonography (TUS) is known to facilitate thoracocentesis after dry tap but has not been studied in detail before VAT‐LA. We report a case of lateral decubitus pre‐VAT TUS that helped locate the optimal access to the pleural space and demonstrated fibrinous intrapleural septation, thereby affecting the decision to avoid thoracoscopic pleurodesis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2009