Survey of Pulmonologistsʼ Perspectives on Thoracoscopy

Thoracoscopy is used increasingly as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in patients with pleural and pulmonary disease by thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists. The thoracic surgical community, through research and publications, has clearly delineated its scope in surgical practice. Data pertaining to pulmonologists' perceptions of thoracoscopy, however, are lacking. We surveyed a group of physicians attending a pleural disease course at the American Lung Association/American Thoracic Society 1999 International Conference to understand better the role of thoracoscopy in a pulmonologist's practice. A 14-item questionnaire was administered to all 142 attendees. Comparison of responses between groups was performed with the chi-square test, and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. One hundred forty-one fully completed questionnaires were analyzed. Ninety percent (n = 128) surveyed were pulmonologists, 9% (n = 12) were trainees, and 1% (n = 1) was not a pulmonologist. The majority worked in academic institutions and had been in practice for 5 years. Twenty-three percent reported having performed thoracoscopy, of which 10% practiced in the United States. Most preferred thoracoscopy to closed needle biopsy and chest tube pleurodesis, and were of the opinion that its role in pulmonary practice, although currently limited by the lack of training opportunities, was likely to increase in the future. Thoracoscopy was considered a valuable addition to a pulmonologist's armamentarium and could be performed by trained pulmonologists.