1110 Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Thoracoscopy

Thoracoscopy is a procedure used to examine the pleural space for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It is a percutaneous procedure performed under general anesthesia that requires hospitalization. Several small incisions are made and the surgeon inserts a thin scope through one of them into the pleural space. When the procedure is finished, a tube is temporarily placed to drain fluid and air. The major diagnostic indication is a pleural effusion of unknown etiology (20% of cases). It has a high sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer, and changes the clinical management of these patients in the 54% of cases.
Source: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Oral abstract Source Type: research