Management of pleural effusions via medical thoracoscopy

【Objective】To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pleuroscopy and talc poudrage pleurodesis via medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions. 【Methods】A series of 46 patients with undi-agnosed exudative pleural effusions and proven malignant pleural effusions were recruited for diagnostic evaluations and medical thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis,respectively in the First Municipal People's Hospital of Guangzhou.【Results】For the 25 patients having diagnostic pleuroscopy,the yield was 92% (23 patients). The onemonth success rate for the 21 patients undergoing pleurodesis was 85.7% (18 patients). Complications were mild and chest pain,self-limited fever after the procedure occurred in 15 (32.6%) and 10(21.7%) cases respectively. No major complications occurred.【Conclusion】Medical thoracoscopy or medical thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis is a safe and efficacious procedure in suitable patients.