Ultrasound-guided intervention in thoracic pathology

Introduction: The utility of ultrasound scans for thoracic conditions is nowadays demonstrated. It has a series of advantages over other imaging techniques, which include the absence of ionising radiation, the possibility of bedside exploration without moving the patient, real-time assessment and equipment accessibility. These advantages make it the study of choice for guiding minimally-invasive procedures in several thoracic conditions, thus achieving the management of outpatients, avoiding hospitalizations or conventional surgical interventions, and therefore minimizing health system costs. Objective: Highlight the role of ultrasound scans and of minimally-invasive methods for the various thoracic conditions. Design: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study. Material and method: Bibliographic review and assessment of patients treated in Thoracic Surgery Service. Results: Between January 2011 and March 2012, 19 ultrasoundguided thoracic minimally-invasive procedures were carried out. Four cases were for percutaneous catheter placement due to partitioned pleural collections, five cases of diagnostic thoracentesis in minimal effusions, four cases of biopsy with Abrams needle or Tru-Cut; and in six cases, fine-needle and core-needle surgical punctures carried out due to peripheral mediastinal and lung tumors. All patients were operated on in the operating room, with local anesthesia, and cardiologic monitoring. No procedural complications were registered. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided interventions are a valuable tool