Role of medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of tuberculous pleural effusion

Background

Fibrous tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) represents common disease in tuberculous clinic. Medical thoracoscopy has been used to treat pleural empyema and shown promising outcomes, but data of its use in multiloculated and organized TPE remains limited to know.

Methods

The study was performed on 430 cases with TPE. The cases were divided into free-flowing, multiloculated effusion and organized effusion group. Each group was subdivided into two or three types of therapeutic approaches: ultrasound guided pigtail catheter, large-bore tube chest drainage and medical thoracoscopy. Patients with multiloculated or organized effusions received streptokinase, introduced into the pleural cavity via chest tubes. The successful effectiveness of the study was defined as duration of chest drainage, time from treatment to discharge days and no further managements.

Results

Patients with organized effusion were older than those with free-flowing effusion and incidence of organized effusion combined with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was higher than those of multiloculated effusion and free-flowing effusion respectively. Positive tuberculosis of pleural fluid culture was higher in organized effusion than that in free-flowing effusion. Sputum positive for acid-fast bacillus (AFB) in organized effusion was higher than that in multiloculated effusion and free-flowing effusion. Medical thoracoscopy showed significant efficacy in the group of multiloculated effusion and organized effusion but free-flowing effusion. No chronic morbidity and mortality related to complications was observed.

Conclusions

Medical thoracoscopy was a safe and successful method in treating multiloculated and organized TPE.     

Myelomatous pleural effusion as an initial sign of multiple myeloma—a case report and review of literature

Objective

Discuss and improve the understanding of the clinical characters and diagnostic methods of myelomatous pleurisy, particularly of the patients with pleural effusion as an initial manifestation.

Background

A 53-year-old male, who had been misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy in a local hospital, was diagnosed as multiple myeloma (MM) with pleural infiltration. We reviewed the literature on clinical manifestations, serum and pleural effusion characters, treatment and diagnostic options of this exceptionally rare presentation of MM.

Methods

We conducted a search of the published medical literature since 2000 in MEDLINE and PubMed using search criteria [(“pleural effusion” and “MM”) or “myelomatous pleural effusions”]. The search led to 64 case reports, and 16 cases with pleural effusion as an initial manifestation were included in this review. We have also searched for recent advances in diagnosis.

Results and conclusions

Myelomatous pleurisy is a rare complication of MM. Its clinical and laboratory findings are non-specific. Definitive diagnosis relies on the histopathology of pleural biopsy or pleural effusion. Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is reliable, safe and effective. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for myelomatous pleural effusion. However, the response rate is low with an overall median survival time of 4 months.     

内科胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的应用

目的 分析内科胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的价值及其安全性.方法 对我院呼吸内科及重症医学科2010年4月至2013年4月收治的92例不明原因胸腔积液患者行内科胸腔镜检查,观察胸膜病变,直视下病变处多部位活检并行病理检查.结果 92例胸腔积液患者确诊84例,诊断阳性率为91.3％,其中恶性胸腔积液48例,结核性胸腔积液29例,非特异性炎症4例,化脓性胸膜炎2例,结节病1例,病因不明8例,术后疼痛11例,发热3例,出血1例.结论 内科胸腔镜检查有助于进一步明确不明原因胸腔积液的病因,且患者耐受性好、安全、有效,值得临床推广应用.     

Nonintubated thoracoscopic lung resection: a 3-year experience with 285 cases in a single institution

Objective

Tracheal intubation with one-lung ventilation is considered mandatory for thoracoscopic surgery. This study reported the experience of thoracoscopic lung resection without endotracheal intubation in a single institution.

Methods

From August 2009 through July 2012, 285 consecutive patients were treated by nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery using epidural anesthesia, intrathoracic vagal blockade, and sedation for lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection in a tertiary medical center. The feasibility and safety of this technique were evaluated.

Results

The final diagnosis for surgery were primary lung cancer in 159 patients (55.8%), metastatic lung cancer in 17 (6.0%), benign lung tumor in 104 (36.5%), and pneumothorax in 5 (1.8%). The operative methods consisted of conventional (83.2%) and needlescopic (16.8%) thoracoscopic surgery. The operative procedures included lobectomy in 137 patients (48.1%), wedge resection in 132 (46.3%), and segmentectomy in 16 (5.6%). Collapse of the operative lung and inhibition of coughing were satisfactory in most of the patients. Fourteen (4.9%) patients required conversion to tracheal intubation because of significant mediastinal movement [5], persistent hypoxemia [2], dense pleural adhesions [2], ineffective epidural anesthesia [2], bleeding [2], and tachypnea [1]. One patient (0.4%) was converted to thoracotomy because of bleeding. No mortality was noted in our patients.

Conclusions

Nonintubated thoracoscopic lung resection is technically feasible and safe in selected patients. It can be a valid alternative in managing patients with pulmonary lesions.Key Words : Anesthesia, tracheal intubation, lobectomy, lung cancer, thoracoscopy, segmentectomy, wedge resection     

The clinical utility of pleural YKL-40 levels in diagnosing pleural effusions

Background and objective

Recent evidence suggests that YKL-40 is a relatively new biomarker of inflammation and it is involved in the pathogenesis of several pulmonary diseases. Details of serum and pleural YKL-40 in pleural effusions however, remain unknown. We aimed to assess whether serum and pleural YKL-40 is an accurate biomarker of pleural effusions.

Methods

This clinical study was prospective, observational and cross-sectional. The concentrations of serum and pleural fluid YKL-40 and conventional pleural marker levels were measured in 80 subjects with pleural effusions, including 23 transudates caused by congestive heart failure (CHF), and 57 exudates including 23 parapneumonic, 22 malignant and 12 tuberculous pleural effusions (TBPEs).

Results

Median pleural fluid YKL-40 levels were higher in exudates than in transudates (219.4 and 205.9 ng/mL, respectively, P<0.001). High pleural YKL-40 levels, with a cutoff value of >215 ng/mL, yielded a 73% sensitivity, 73% specificity, likelihood ratio 2.8 for diagnosing exudate, with an area under the curve of 0.770 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.657-0.884]. Pleural YKL-40/serum YKL-40 ratio >1.5 yielded a 75% sensitivity, 72% specificity and likelihood ratio 2.6 for diagnosing TBPE, with an area under the curve of 0.825 (95% CI: 0.710-0.940).

Conclusions

High concentrations of pleural YKL-40 level may help to differentiate exudate from transudate and a high pleural YKL-40/serum YKL-40 ratio may be helpful in seperating TBPE from non-tuberculous effusions.KEYWORDS : Exudate, pleural effusion, transudate, tuberculosis, YKL-40     

结核性与恶性胸腔积液内科胸腔镜下特征比较及诊断相关因素分析

目的对比结核性与恶性胸腔积液内科胸腔镜下的特征及常见危险因素、临床表现的差异,为不明原因胸腔积液鉴别诊断提供依据。方法收集山西医科大学第一医院呼吸科2016年1月至2018年1月“胸腔积液待查”的90例患者临床资料,均因病因不明行内科胸腔镜下胸膜活检,按病理结果分为结核组与恶性组,对比分析2组镜下特征和常见危险因素、临床表现等指标。结果90例患者经胸腔镜和病理检查明确诊断85例,确诊率为944%,其中结核性胸腔积液40例,恶性胸腔积液36例。结核组镜下表现以胸膜充血水肿、广泛粘连、胸膜均匀一致小结节为主(χ^2值分别为23.175、7.361、6.064,P值均<005);恶性组镜下表现以胸膜增生增厚、大小不等结节、白斑样改变、肿块为主(χ^2值分别为23.095、8.717、11.577、5.127,P值均<005)。单因素回归分析:发热、体质量减轻对结核性胸腔积液诊断有意义;年龄>40岁、气促、病程>1个月、吸烟指数>400年支及血性胸腔积液对恶性胸腔积液的诊断有提示意义。多因素回归分析:发热和体质量减轻是结核性胸腔积液的特征性表现;年龄>40岁、病程>1个月、吸烟指数>400年支和血性胸腔积液对恶性胸腔积液诊断有较大价值。结论内科胸腔镜是确诊不明原因胸腔积液的有效检查方法,恶性胸腔积液和结核性胸腔积液是最常见的病因。危险因素、临床表现等指标及内镜下特征性表现对结核性与恶性胸腔积液鉴别有较大提示意义。     

The use of Jackson-Pratt silicone flat drains as prolonged pleural catheters for the management of pleural effusions

Introduction

Imbalance between secretion and absorbtion of pleural fluid results in pleural effusion. Emergence of pleural effusion ipsilateral or contralateral to the side drained previously is named recurrent effusion. There is currently no standart approach for the management of recurrent pleural effusions.

Materials and methods

Eighteen patients, treated between 2011 and 2012 for recurrent pleural effusions due to various etiologies, not considered for surgical or other treatments, and underwent placement of prolonged pleural catheters (Jackson-Pratt drain) were included in this study. Twenty two prolonged pleural catheters were inserted in 18 patients. There were 10 females and 8 males, with mean age 59 (35-77). In 20 patients the catheters were inserted by an anterior approach, and by a posterior approach in one patient. Daily drainage above 1,500 mL was not permitted in order to avoid pulmonary edema. Catheters were removed in patients who had lung expansion and drainage under 50 mL/day.

Results

The most common etiology for pleural effusions was extrathoracic malignancy in 9 patients, primary bronchial carcinoma in 5 patients, and benign pleural effusion in 4 patients. Four patients underwent bilateral prolonged pleural catheter insertion. The catheters were retained for a mean period of 19 (10-40) days. Pleural effusion recurred two months after removal of the catheter in one patient with primary bronchial cancer (5%). Only one patient developed a complication (empyema) while under drainage (5%). Two patients died while the catheter was in place.

Conclusions

Decreased length of stay and lower costs have enabled prolonged are the major advantages of pleural catheter applications in appropriate patients compared to other treatment methods. We believe that the Jackson Pratt silicone flat drains provide effective pleurodesis along with easy application, and suggest their use as an alternative to pleurodesis in especially malignant pleural effusions and not benign pleural effusions.KEY WORDS : Pleural effusion, prolonged pleural catheter, pleurodesis     

The role of thoracoscopy in pleural biopsy in cases with pleural effusion

Between April 1985 and July 1989, 125 cases with pleural effusion were admitted to our department. The causes of pleural effusion were carcinomatous pleurisy in 47 cases, infection without tuberculosis in 34 cases, tuberculous pleurisy in 17 cases, cardiac insufficiency and hypoproteinemia in 11 cases, trauma and pneumothorax in nine cases, collagen disease in two cases and unknown origin in five cases. Carcinomatous pleurisy and tuberculous pleurisy, the differential diagnosis of which is very important, comprised 37% and 14% of all cases, respectively. These diseases can be definitively diagnosed by pleural biopsy, effusion cytology and/or effusion culture. In July 1987, we introduced thoracoscopy to improve the ratio of definitive diagnoses. The ratio for carcinomatous pleurisy in the previous term, when thoracoscopy was not being used, was 59%, while that in the latter term, when it was used, was 73%. The ratio for all cases with tuberculous pleurisy was 47%. Prior to June 1987, pleural biopsies in our department were performed with a Cope needle. Using that procedure, a low positive ratio of 50% was obtained. For thoracoscopic pleural biopsies, a high positive ratio of 84% was achieved (in carcinomatous pleurisy, 13 out of 15 cases; in tuberculous pleurisy, three out of four cases). This procedure was performed with minimal patient discomfort and no serious complications. Therefore, thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is recommended as a diagnostic procedure for cases with pleural effusion.     

Role of blind closed pleural biopsy in the management of pleural exudates

INTRODUCTION:

The performance of blind closed pleural biopsy (BCPB) in the study of pleural exudates is controversial.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the diagnostic yield of BCPB in clinical practice and its role in the study of pleural exudates.

METHODS:

Data were retrospectively collected on all patients who underwent BCPB performed between January 1999 and December 2011.

RESULTS:

A total of 658 BCPBs were performed on 575 patients. Pleural tissue was obtained in 590 (89.7%) of the biopsies. A malignant pleural effusion was found in 35% of patients. The cytology and the BCPB were positive in 69.2% and 59.2% of the patients, respectively. Of the patients with negative cytology, 21 had a positive BCPB (diagnostic improvement, 15%), which would have avoided one pleuroscopy for every seven BCPBs that were performed. Of the 113 patients with a tuberculous effusion, granulomas were observed in 87 and the Lowenstein culture was positive in an additional 17 (sensitivity 92%). The overall sensitivity was 33.9%, with a specificity and positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 71%. Complications were recorded in 14.4% of patients (pneumothorax 9.4%; chest pain 5.6%; vasovagal reaction, 4.1%; biopsy of another organ 0.5%).

CONCLUSIONS:

BCPB still has a significant role in the study of a pleural exudate. If an image-guided technique is unavailable, it seems reasonable to perform BCPB before resorting to a pleuroscopy. These results support BCPB as a relatively safe technique.     

Physiologic and immunologic effects of subxiphoid pulmonary lobectomy compared with transthoracic pulmonary lobectomy in a canine survival model

Background

Subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery has been used in various thoracic surgical procedures. The aim of this study is to compare the physiological and inflammatory responses between subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery and standard transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery for anatomic pulmonary lobectomy in a canine model.

Methods

Nineteen dogs were assigned to subxiphoid (n=10) or standard thoracoscopy (n=9). Animals in the subxiphoid and standard thoracoscopy group received anatomic lobectomy via a 3-cm xiphoid and thoracic incision, respectively. Physiological and inflammatory parameters were compared between the two groups before surgery, during the operation, and on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 14. The animals were sacrificed and necropsied at 2 weeks after surgery.

Results

All procedures were performed successfully with no conversion nor complication. The physiologic changes were similar in both groups. There was no observable different between the two groups in terms of C-reactive protein (CRP) level, interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, neutrophil count, neutrophil 20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) expression, monocyte count, monocyte inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and CD4/CD8 ratios. However, the reduction of total lymphocyte count, CD4, and CD8 lymphocyte counts were observed in the subxiphoid anatomic lobectomy group on postoperative day 7, which was significantly lower than that of the standard transthoracic thoracoscopic approach.

Conclusions

Subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery resulted in similar physiologic impact and surgical outcome to those of standard transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery. Nevertheless, subxiphoid thoracoscopic surgery is associated with more pronounced immunosuppression than the standard transthoracic thoracoscopic approach.     

可弯曲内科胸腔镜术对恶性胸腔积液的诊治价值

目的探讨可弯曲内科电子胸腔镜在诊治恶性胸腔积液中的价值。方法经可弯曲内科电子胸腔镜检查确诊的118例恶性胸腔积液的临床资料进行了分析,118例中55例经内科胸腔镜行滑石粉喷洒胸膜固定术。结果 118例均经胸膜活检病理确诊,包括肺癌胸膜转移106例(腺癌74例、鳞癌22例、小细胞癌7例、大细胞癌1例、病理未能分型2例),其他部位胸膜转移6例,胸膜间皮瘤4例,胸膜淋巴瘤2例。胸膜病变主要表现为大小不等的结节、肿块、扁平隆起、白斑、胸膜充血等。胸腔镜下滑石粉胸膜固定术组的胸水控制率为96.4%(53/55),通过胸腔闭式引流管注药的对照组胸水控制率为67.3%(37/55),两组疗效相差显著(P0.01)。胸膜固定术患者术后出现胸痛52例、发热45例,均对症治疗后好转,118例均未发现严重并发症。结论可弯曲内科电子胸腔镜术诊治恶性胸腔积液是一种安全、微创、高效而实用的方法,值得临床广泛推广。     

Air leakage on the postoperative day: powerful factor of postoperative recurrence after thoracoscopic bullectomy

Background

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a relatively common disorder in young patients. Although various surgical techniques have been introduced, recurrence after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) remains high. The aim of study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative recurrence after thoracoscopic bullectomy in the spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods

From January 2011 through March 2013, two hundreds and thirty two patients underwent surgery because of pneumothorax. Patients with a secondary pneumothorax, as well as cases of single port surgery, an open procedure, additional pleural procedure (pleurectomy, pleural abrasion) or lack of medical records were excluded. The records of 147 patients with PSP undergoing 3-port video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy with staple line coverage using an absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

The median age was 19 years (range, 11−34 years) with male predominance (87.8%). Median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1−10 days) without mortality. Complications were developed in five patients. A total of 24 patients showed postoperative recurrence (16.3%). Younger age less than 17 years old and immediate postoperative air leakage were risk factors for postoperative recurrence after thoracoscopic bullectomy by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Immediate postoperative air leakage was the risk factor for postoperative recurrence. However, further study will be required for the correlation of air leakage with recurrence.     

Real-time polymerase chain reaction for microbiological diagnosis of parapneumonic effusions in Canadian children

BACKGROUND:

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) complicated by parapneumonic effusion/empyema is an infectious syndrome commonly encountered by physicians caring for children in Canada.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the incremental benefit of novel molecular testing for the microbiological diagnosis of pediatric CAP complicated by parapneumonic effusion/empyema in Canada.

METHODS:

A convenience sample of pleural fluid from 56 children who had been admitted to hospital in Ontario with CAP complicated by parapneumonic effusion between 2009 and 2011 was examined. Multiple uniplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed on these pleural fluids and compared with traditional culture-based testing of blood and pleural fluid samples.

RESULTS:

Molecular methods detected a pathogen in 82% of cases, whereas traditional cultures of blood and pleural fluids detected a pathogen in only 25%. The majority of parapneumonic effusions were associated with pneumococcal infection; Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected in 62% of the samples using molecular methods but in only 14% of samples using culture-based methods. Streptococcus pyogenes, detected in 16% of samples using PCR, was the second most common pathogen found. No patients were found to have empyema caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

DISCUSSION:

The results showed that multiple uniplex real-time PCR performed substantially better than traditional culture methods for microbiological diagnosis of CAP complicated by effusion/ empyema. S pneumoniae and S pyogenes were found to be responsible for the majority of infections. The approach detected pathogens in a similar proportion of pleural fluid samples as previously reported nested PCR assays; furthermore, the real-time closed-well approach also minimized the risk of nonspecificity due to cross-contamination relative to nested PCR.

CONCLUSIONS:

Real-time PCR for the detection of bacterial DNA in pleural fluids has the potential to better define the microbiological cause of pediatric CAP. This approach could help clinicians provide targeted antimicrobial therapy.     

内科胸腔镜对胸腔积液诊断和治疗的临床价值

目的：探讨内科胸腔镜对胸腔积液的诊断价值,以及应用内科胸腔镜滑石粉胸膜固定术对恶性胸腔积液的治疗价值。方法回顾性性分析2008年1月至2014年1月在郑州市第三人民医院呼吸内科接受内科胸腔镜诊断的142例胸腔积液患者的临床资料。评价内科胸腔镜对胸腔积液的诊断阳性率和分析病因。将确诊为恶性胸腔积液的患者分为胸腔镜组和对照组。胸腔镜组给予内科胸腔镜滑石粉胸膜固定术,对照组胸给予胸腔引流管内灌注滑石粉而实现胸膜固定。对两组的疗效进行对比和分析。结果在142例胸腔积液患者中,有136例经内科胸腔镜检查及病理活检明确诊断,确诊率达95.8%。其中恶性胸腔积液(含恶性胸膜间皮瘤2例)85例(59.9%),结核性胸膜炎31例(21.8%),肺炎旁积液13例(9.2%),非特异性炎症7例(4.9%),原因不明胸腔积液6例(4.2%)。确诊的85例恶性胸腔积液患者中,胸腔镜组56例,1个月后复查有效率为91.1%,完全缓解率为82.1%;对照组29例,1个月后复查有效率为69.0%,完全缓解率为48.3%,两组有效率和完全缓解率比较,差异均有统计学意义(χ2值分别为6.786、10.555,P 值分别为0.009、0.001)。结论内科胸腔镜对胸腔积液具有较好的确诊率,内科胸腔镜滑石粉胸膜固定术可以有效地治疗恶性胸腔积液。     

Low-cost biportal endoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Background

Like many other countries, including the United States, China faces the problem of rising health care costs, which have become a heavy burden on the state and individuals. Endoscopic surgery offers many benefits. However, the need for more expensive endoscopic consumables brings further high medical costs. Therefore, the development of video-assisted thoracic surgery with no disposable consumables will help to control medical cost escalation.

Methods

Between October 2011 and September 2014, a series of 66 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax underwent hand ligation of blebs under biportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or bullectomy with stapler during triportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. After treatment of blebs, pleural abrasion was performed with an electrocautery cleaning pad.

Results

Compared with the group treated by bullectomy with stapler, we found a significant reduction in postoperative costs in the group with bleb ligation. There was no difference in operating time, chest tube drainage, and postoperative stay between the two groups. The follow-up period varied from 1 to 35 months and six cases of recurrence were noted.

Conclusions

The technique that we described appears to offer better economic results than bullectomy with a stapler under three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for treating primary spontaneous. The clinical outcomes are similar.     

Analysis on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of 49 cases with solitary nodular ground-glass opacity

Objective

This study is designed to investigate the treatment approach and prognosis of pulmonary ground-glass-like shadow, especially solitary nodular ground-glass opacity (SNGGO).

Methods

Forty-nine cases of SNGGO that persisted after anti-inflammatory treatment in our hospital were retrospectively studied. These patients received thoracoscopic surgery due to indefinitive diagnosis and a tendency of canceration (some cases were followed up for 1-24 months before surgery). Intraoperative rapid frozen section was performed for pathological diagnosis, and surgery method was chosen according to pathological results and the health status of the patients.

Results

Forty-three cases showed malignancy, among which 36 cases received thoracoscopic total resection of the lung cancer and seven received simple wedge resection or pulmonary segment resection due to poor lung function; two cases were atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) and received wedge resection; and four cases were benign and received lesion resection only. Intraoperative frozen section results were in line with postoperative pathological analysis. No lymph node metastasis was detected in any malignant cases as indicated by lymph node dissection or sampling. All malignant cases were staged Ia by postoperative pathological analysis. Neither recurrence nor metastasis occurred during the 1-30 months’ follow-up.

Conclusions

SNGGO that persists after anti-inflammatory treatment tend to be adenocarcinoma, which can hardly be diagnosed in the early stage through non-invasive examination. If there’s no contraindication for surgery, video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS)-guided resection of the lesion plus intraoperative rapid frozen section should be performed to synchronize diagnosis and treatment, which could achieve satisfactory prognosis.     

Nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery using regional anesthesia and vagal block and targeted sedation

Objective

Thoracoscopic surgery without endotracheal intubation is a novel technique for diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases. This study reported the experience of nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan.

Methods

From August 2009 through August 2013, 446 consecutive patients with lung or pleural diseases were treated by nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery. Regional anesthesia was achieved by thoracic epidural anesthesia or internal intercostal blockade. Targeted sedation was performed with propofol infusion to achieve a bispectral index value between 40 and 60. The demographic data and clinical outcomes were evaluated by retrospective chart review.

Results

Thoracic epidural anesthesia was used in 290 patients (65.0%) while internal intercostal blockade was used in 156 patients (35.0%). The final diagnosis were primary lung cancer in 263 patients (59.0%), metastatic lung cancer in 38 (8.5%), benign lung tumor in 140 (31.4%), and pneumothorax in 5 (1.1%). The median anesthetic induction time was 30 minutes by thoracic epidural anesthesia and was 10 minutes by internal intercostal blockade. The operative procedures included lobectomy in 189 patients (42.4%), wedge resection in 229 (51.3%), and segmentectomy in 28 (6.3%). Sixteen patients (3.6%) required conversion to tracheal intubation because of significant mediastinal movement (seven patients), persistent hypoxemia (two patients), dense pleural adhesions (two patients), ineffective epidural anesthesia (two patients), bleeding (two patients), and tachypnea (one patient). One patient (0.4%) was converted to thoracotomy because of bleeding. No mortality was noted in our patients.

Conclusions

Nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery is technically feasible and safe and can be a less invasive alternative for diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases.     

Residual hemothorax after chest tube placement correlates with increased risk of empyema following traumatic injury

BACKGROUND:

Empyema complicates tube thoracostomy following trauma in up to 10% of cases. Studies of potential risk factors of empyema have included use of antibiotics, site of injury and technique of chest tube placement. Residual fluid has also been cited as a risk factor for empyema, although the imaging technique to identify this varies.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether residual hemothorax detected by chest x-ray (CXR) after one or more initial chest tubes predicts an increased risk of empyema.

METHODS:

A study of patients admitted to two level I trauma centres between January 7, 2004, and December 31, 2004, was conducted. All patients who received a chest tube in the emergency department, did not undergo thoracotomy within 24 h, and survived more than two days were followed. Empyema was defined as a pleural effusion with positive cultures, and a ratio of pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase to serum lactate dehydrogenase greater than 0.6 in the setting of elevated leukocyte count and fever. Factors analyzed included the presence of retained hemothorax on CXR after the most recent tube placement in the emergency room, age, mechanism of injury and injury severity score.

RESULTS:

A total of 102 patients met the criteria. Nine patients (9%) developed empyema: seven of 21 patients (33%) with residual hemothorax developed empyema versus two of 81 patients (2%) without residual hemothorax developed empyema (P=0.001). Injury severity score was significantly higher in those who developed empyema (31.4±26) versus those who did not (22.6±13; P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS:

The presence of residual hemothorax detected by CXR after tube thoracostomy should prompt further efforts, including thoracoscopy, to drain it. With increasing injury severity, there may be increased benefit in terms of reducing empyema with this approach.     

可弯曲电子内科胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的应用价值

目的探讨可弯曲电子内科胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的应用价值。方法采用尖端可弯曲电子内科胸腔镜（LTF-240型）对92例不明原因的胸腔积液患者进行检查,并回顾性分析其临床资料。结果92例患者均成功实施了胸腔镜检查,胸腔镜下病理组织活检确诊恶性肿瘤30例、结核性胸膜炎57例、慢性炎症5例。肿瘤和结核病理结果确诊率为94．6％。恶性胸腔积液主要表现为结节样改变,部分病灶融合成肿块。而结核性胸膜炎主要为胸膜弥漫性充血肿胀,结节病灶细小呈卵石样改变,可见坏死物覆盖。92例胸腔镜检查仅1例出现胸膜反应,无严重并发症发生。结论可弯曲电子内科胸腔镜检查安全、有效、易操作。     

Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy improves yield of Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis

Background and objective

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for ~15% of all TB patients, and TB pleural effusion is the second most common site of EPTB. The diagnosis of pleural TB is challenging due to the pauci‐bacillary nature of the disease. Histopathology of thoracoscopically obtained pleural biopsy provides the highest diagnostic yield. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) is a PCR test that can identify both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampicin resistance. Currently, there is a lack of clarity regarding the value of Xpert on pleural tissue. We report our experience of using Xpert on thoracoscopic pleural biopsy samples.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent thoracoscopy in our institution over a 1‐year period. Relevant clinical details; indications; and results of tests on pleural tissue and fluid, including histopathology, mycobacterial cultures and Xpert, were extracted.

Results

Of the 156 patients who underwent thoracoscopy, 73 (47%) had TB, 66 (42%) malignancy and 17 (11%) other conditions. Histopathology was diagnostic in all the 73 TB patients (100%). The yields of the microbiological tests against histopathology on thoracoscopic biopsy sample and pleural fluid were: pleural tissue Xpert 45%, pleural tissue culture 39%, pleural fluid culture 17% and pleural fluid Xpert 14%. Pleural tissue provided higher yields than fluid in both Xpert and culture (P < 0.05). Pleural tissue Xpert provided a higher yield than culture and substantially improved yield compared with closed pleural biopsy as we previously reported.

Conclusion

Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy results in increased sensitivity on Xpert testing.