The use of thoracoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases]

The procedure and results of thoracoscopy by using a fiberoptic bronchoscope and rigid cold-light thoracoscope in 76 cases with chest diseases of unknown causes were reported. The positive diagnostic rate was 89.5% (68/76). The histologic diagnosis following thoracoscopic biopsy in 65 patients was compared with the findings at follow-up, the results showed the sensitivity being 87.7%, specificity 100% and diagnostic accuracy 89.2%. 3 cases with persistent or recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax were cured by Nd-YAG laser transendoscopically. 5 patients with malignant pleural effusion were treated with intrapleural talcum powder under thoracoscopic control, 4 of them obtained complete pleurodesis. There were only minor complications: transient fever in 40 cases and local subcutaneous emphysema in 7. It was concluded that thoracoscopy is simple, safe, reliable and practical in the diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. It should be popularized clinically.