The utility of thoracic ultrasound before local anesthetic video-assisted thoracoscopy in patients with suspected pleural malignancy.

摘要: Video-assisted thoracoscopy under local anesthesia (VAT-LA) is a key investigation in the diagnosis and management of suspected malignant pleural effusion. Two problems encountered at VAT-LA are accessing space fibrinous intrapleural septa. Thoracic sonography (TUS) known to facilitate thoracocentesis after dry tap but has not been studied detail before VAT-LA. We report case lateral decubitus pre-VAT TUS that helped locate optimal access demonstrated septation, thereby affecting decision avoid thoracoscopic pleurodesis.