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Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Use of medical thoracoscopy in managing pleural malignancy
Avinash Aujayeb1, Philippe Astoul2
1Respiratory Department, Northumbria Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK.
Abstract:
Local anaesthetic "medical" thoracoscopy is an important tool for the diagnosis and management of a unilateral pleural effusion. It is performed under conscious sedation and has a high diagnostic yield. Clinical experience has demonstrated that thoracoscopy is a safe procedure. This article is an expert review of various aspects of the procedures from two experienced practitioners and we suggest areas for potential future research.
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