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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
[Medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion: an analysis of 27 cases]
Wei Zhang1, Guang Fa Wang, Hong Zhang
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of talc poudrage pleurodesis via semi-rigid medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions, as well as the factors that may influence the outcomes.
Methods:
A series of 27 patients with malignant pleural effusion underwent medical thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis between July 2005 and September 2007 in Peking University First Hospital.
Results:
There were 16 male and 11 female patients in the series, the average age being 65.2 years. All the patients had documented malignant pleural effusions, including 16 cases of adenocarcinoma, 6 of malignant mesothelioma, 2 of squamous cell carcinoma, 1 of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, 1 of small cell carcinoma and 1 of undifferentiated lung cancer. Thirty days after the procedures, complete successful pleurodesis was achieved in 22 cases, and partial successful in 4 cases. Pleurodesis was not successful in one case. Overall successful rate was 96.3% (26/27). The average duration of thoracic tubing was 6.85 days. Chest pain, fever and an increase in peripheral WBC after the procedure occurred in 19(70.4%, 19/27), 21(77.8%, 21/27), and 12(44.4%, 12/27) cases respectively. No respiratory failure occurred.
Conclusion:
Medical thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis is a safe and effective method for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion.
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