Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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Role of Single Port Rigid Thoracoscopy in Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion

  • Jagdish Rawat (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences) ;
  • Anil Kumar (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adesh Medical College & Hospital) ;
  • Parul Mrigpuri (Department Pulmonary Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi) ;
  • Dev Singh Jangpangi (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences) ;
  • Abhay Pratap Singh (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences) ;
  • Ritisha Bhatt (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences)
  • Received : 2023.07.20
  • Accepted : 2024.01.27
  • Published : 2024.04.30
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Abstract

Background: In recent years, medical thoracoscopy has been well established to play an important role in undiagnosed pleural effusion; however, this procedure is underutilized due to limited availability of the instruments it requires. This study analysed the outcome of single port rigid thoracoscopy in patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions. Methods: This study retrospectively analysed the outcomes of all patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion presenting to our centre between 2016 to 2020 who underwent single port rigid medical thoracoscopy as a diagnostic procedure. Results: In total, 92 patients underwent single port rigid medical thoracoscopy. The most common presenting symptom was shortness of breath. A majority of the patients had lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion. The average biopsy sample size was 18 mm, and no major complication was reported in any of the patients. Conclusion: Single port rigid thoracoscopy is a safe and well-tolerated procedure that yields a biopsy of a larger size with high diagnostic yield. Moreover, the low cost of the instruments required by this procedure makes it particularly suited for use in developing countries.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors are indebted to their colleagues who referred patients, in particular Dr. Tejas Sood and Dr Aabid Shafi Wani. for helping on technical aspects. We are thankful to Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Technician, Intervention Suite for helping in study right from registration and technical aspects in performing thoracoscopy.

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