Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Published on: May 26, 2023
Can intrapleural C-reactive protein predict VATS pleurodesis failure?
F Leo1, N Vénissac, D Pop
1Thoracic Surgery Department, Pasteur Hospital, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France. francesco.leo@ieo.it
Background:
Intrapleural inflammatory reaction after surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax is a key indicator whether an effective pleurodesis has been achieved. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that intrapleural C-reactive protein (CRP) might precisely quantify the postoperative pleural inflammation, offering potentially useful information for patient management.
Methods:
The study population consisted of 75 consecutive patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic pleurectomy or pleural abrasion for spontaneous pneumothorax between April 2003 and August 2004. We assessed CRP levels in pleural and blood samples taken daily in the first 4 postoperative days.
Results:
Intrapleural CRP profile was significantly lower in patients who underwent pleural abrasion, in younger patients (< 25 years) and in patients who were not drained before surgery. Patients with pleurodesis failure had a lower CRP peak with a delayed peak. Receiving operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that the cutoff value of intrapleural CRP for pleurodesis failure was 25 mg/l on the second postoperative day (sensitivity 87.5 %, specificity 66.6 %, positive predictive value 24.1, negative predictive value 97.7 %).
Conclusions:
Pleural CRP levels of less than 25 mg/l on the second postoperative day indicate only a moderate pleural inflammation.
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