Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Treatment of malignant pleural effusion
Ricardo Mingarini Terra1, Alberto Jorge Monteiro Dela Vega2
1Thoracic Surgery Division, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a very disabling condition that often affects patients with advanced neoplasm. Conservative approach, repeated thoracentesis, pleurodesis and use of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) are the main methods to deal with this condition. The ideal treatment must focus on symptom relief and has to take into account patient underlying diseases, performance status and necessity of adequate tissue sample for diagnosis. In a video we show techniques to perform video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) pleural biopsy and talc poudrage pleurodesis.
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