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E. Kainis
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P1.04 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 456)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Pulmonology
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/05/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P1.04-021 - Medical Thoracoscopy for the Diagnosis and Management of Pleural Effusions: Results of a Retrospective Analysis (ID 4057)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): E. Kainis
- Abstract
Background:
Medical thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure utilized mainly by pulmonologists for the diagnosis and management of pleural effusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical thoracoscopy when performed by a combined team of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons in a tertiary university hospital.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients with pleural effusion whο underwent medical thoracoscopy at “LAIKO” Athens General Hospital from June 2013 to December 2014.
Results:
Our study population included 36 patients, 18 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 61 years. All patients were submitted to medical thoracoscopy for the diagnostic evaluation of pleural effusion. Twenty-six patients (26/36, 72.2%) presented with an undiagnosed pleural effusion, six (16.7%) with known malignant, recurrent pleural effusion, three (8.3%) with parapneumonic effusion/empyema and one (2.8%) with idiopathic pleural effusion due to nephritic syndrome. Eighteen patients (18/36, 50%) underwent drainage and pleural biopsy, 9 patients (9/36, 25%) underwent drainage, pleural biopsy and talc pleurodesis, 6 patients (6/36, 16.7%) underwent drainage and talc pleurodesis due to known malignant pleural effusion and 3 patients (3/36, 8.3%) underwent drainage of their parapneumonic effusion/empyema. Among all patients (n=27) who underwent diagnostic pleural biopsy, 2 patients (7.4%) were diagnosed with primary non-small cell lung cancer, 4 (14.8%) with malignant pleural mesothelioma, 3 (11.1%) with metastatic disease of non-thoracic primary origin and 3 (11.1%) with lymphoma, while 1 patient each (3.7%) was diagnosed with tuberculosis, systemic lupus eryhtematosus, chronic inflammation, chronic pleural fibrosis and nephritic syndrome. In 3 patients (3/27, 11.1%) the biopsy was negative. Medical thoracoscopy was non-diagnostic in one patient only (1/27, 3.7%), thus producing a diagnostic yield of 97.3%. With the notable exception of one patient (1/36, 2.8%) who died due to empyema and subsequent sepsis, the remaining post procedural complications were mild, and included subcutaneous emphysema in 6 cases (6/36, 16.7%) and minor bleeding in 3 cases (3/36, 8.3%).
Conclusion:
When performed by a combined team of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons in a tertiary level hospital, medical thoracoscopy is a relatively safe and efficacious technique for the diagnosis and management of pleural effusions in patients unable to undergo or not requiring surgical intervention.
