The feasibility of medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of multi-locculated pleural effusion

Introduction Optimal surgical procedure must be selected according to empyema stage in the treatment of multi-locculated empyema. However, it is difficult to select the optimal procedure using conventional staging systme. The medical thoracoscopy is an ideal diagnostic tool of pleural disease, we used medical thoracoscopy to evaluate the accurate staging of empyema and to select optimal surgical procedure. Methods 108 patients were transferred to treat multi loculated pleural effusion. The type of surgical procedure was selected according to the empyema stage of American Thoracic Society. Group I (n=44) was staged according to conventional staging system such as onset time, pleural fluid finding and CT findings, and group II(n=64) according to the finding of medical thoracoscopy. Results There was no significant difference of morbidity and mortality between two groups (p Conclusions The medical throacoscopy is helpful to decide the optimal procedure in the treatment of multiple loculated empyema. We could decrease the incidence of open thoracotomy to use medical thoracoscopy.