ABSTRACT
Technique o f VATS fo r Pleural D isease ............................................................................ 205 P leurodesis ............................................................................................................................. 205 M esoth eliom a ....................................................................................................................... 206
Pleural effusions are frequently observed in patients with pulmonary malig nancies as well as in patients with cardiac failure, pulmonary diseases, mediastinal diseases and intra-abdominal diseases. The proper management o f pleural effu sions depends on accurate diagnosis. Traditionally, pleural diseases are diagnosed by aspirating pleural fluid or transthoracic pleural biopsy using a Cope’s needle. Utilizing thoracentesis yields a diagnosis in 66% of patients. The addition o f a pleural biopsy increases this value to 75%. Despite those results, 25% o f patients are undiagnosed. These patients require further diagnostic and therapeutic inter ventions. Thoracoscopy provides a diagnostic and therapeutic modality for these patients.
