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Review
. 2021 Dec;42(4):751-766.
doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.08.010.

Medical Thoracoscopy

Sameer K Avasarala  1 , Robert J Lentz  2 , Fabien Maldonado  3
Affiliations
Review

Medical Thoracoscopy

Sameer K Avasarala et al. Clin Chest Med. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Medical thoracoscopy is an effective and safe modality to visualize and sample contents of the pleural cavity. It is an outpatient procedure that can be performed while the patient is spontaneously breathing, with the use of local anesthesia and intravenous medications for sedation and analgesia. Medical thoracoscopy has indications in the management of a variety of pleural diseases. It is most commonly performed as a diagnostic procedure but has therapeutic applications as well. Although it has its advantages, management strategies of certain pleural diseases should take place within a multidisciplinary environment including general pulmonologists, interventional pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.

Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma; Medical thoracoscopy; Pleural effusion; Pleurodesis; Pleuroscopy; Pneumothorax.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose.