ABSTRACT
Overview 620 The need for specialist pleural services 620 Benefits of a pleural service 621 Aims of a pleural service 621 Service structure 621 Finances 622 Ultrasound 622 Administrative 622 Elements of a pleural service 622
Medical team 624 Nursing staff 624 Oncology and palliative care624 Thoracic surgical services 624 Radiology 624 Pathology services 624
Conclusion 625 References 625
e modern pleural service is an ever-evolving entity that has come to the fore in recent years as the potential benets of dedicated pleural disease care are increasingly recognized. Advances in pleural diagnostics and interventions, as well as a greater disease burden, have reduced the likelihood that a standard general medical service will be able to oer the full range of pleural diagnostic services in a timely manner. Furthermore, the successful pleural service is ideally placed to enhance research output, improve standards of training, reduce inpatient times, and even improve hospital income. is chapter aims to both demonstrate the increasing need for pleural specialist services and highlight how
they may be organized, as well as provide practical advice to readers who may be in the position to establish or improve such a service in the future.
