Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Optimizing control of the pleural space
Sudish C Murthy1, Siva Raja, David P Mason
1Heart and Vascular Institute, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. murthys1@ccf.org
Abstract:
Pleural space problems can create formidable treatment dilemmas for thoracic surgeons. Most arise as iatrogenic sequelae of lung resections, although some occur as late consequences of infection, hemothorax, or systemic inflammatory disease. Regardless of etiology, a central theme in the development and perpetuation of chronic pleural space problems is that there has been a loss of parietal-visceral pleural apposition, and this has allowed for development of an obligate space. A variety of surgical strategies aimed at reestablishment of pleural apposition and obliteration of pleural space are reviewed.
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