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Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
A Diaphragmic Traction Suture Increases Pleural Cavity Volume and Surgical Field Overview During Video-Assisted
Finn A Dittberner1, Lars Ladegaard1, Peter B Licht2
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
Objectives:
An elevated hemidiaphragm may impair surgical field overview during video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and may consequently jeopardize a safe surgical procedure or prolong the duration of surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate if tension applied to a diaphragmatic suture improves the surgical field overview.
Methods:
Following informed consent and at the surgeon's discretion during elective VATS procedures, a single stitch was placed at the posterior tendinous border of the diaphragm and retracted through the camera port. The surgical field overview was evaluated using a numeric rating scale (1-10) by the surgeon before and after applying tension during the procedure, and later by 9 VATS surgeons (> 10 years' experience) using video recordings.
Results:
During a 4-month period, 43 patients scheduled for elective VATS by two surgeons gave informed consent to participate. The hemidiaphragm was elevated to such an extent in 27 patients that the surgeon placed a diaphragmatic stitch suture. When tension was applied to the suture, surgical field overview improved significantly (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
A diaphragmatic traction suture improves surgical field overview in selected patients with elevation of the hemidiaphragm. This simple procedure may facilitate VATS in patients with impaired surgical field overview and consequently improve safety during VATS. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: http://ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT04837950).
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