Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Minimally invasive treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas in adults
1Pleural Medicine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.
Objectives:
To summarize the evidence underlying the non-surgical management of patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPPE) or empyemas.
Data Source:
All articles published in PubMed according to their relevance with the subject were identified.
Results And Conclusions:
There is a lack of powered randomized controlled studies comparing medical and surgical approaches to CPPE/empyemas in adults. In addition to antibiotics for an unspecified period of time, CPPE/empyemas can initially be treated with a therapeutic thoracentesis (which can be repeated if necessary), the insertion of a small-bore chest catheter under ultrasound guidance, or the administration through the catheter of fibrinolytics alone, saline alone or fibrinolytics in combination with either saline or deoxyribonuclease. These conservative measures resolve more than 90% of the cases, thus making a rescue surgery unnecessary.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:28Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:27Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations: