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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Perioperative changes in pulmonary function after anterior scoliosis instrumentation: thoracoscopic versus open approaches.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing surgical correction. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a minimally invasive thoracoscopic approach had less postoperative pulmonary function impairment compared to open anterior instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior studies suggest that open anterior scoliosis surgery causes an initial decrease in pulmonary function that resolves by 2 years after surgery. However, the effect of thoracoscopic instrumented scoliosis correction on pulmonary function is unknown. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with AIS undergoing anterior spinal instrumentation and fusion at the authors' institutions were evaluated with pulmonary function tests assessing forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Patients were evaluated before surgery,as well as 3 months and 1 year after surgery. There were 2 groups of patients: in one group, a thoracoscopic technique was used to visualize and instrument the anterior spine (n = 31); and in the other, an open single or double thoracotomy was used (n = 23). RESULTS: Three months after surgery, the thoracoscopic group had a significantly smaller decline in FVC than the thoracotomy group; at 1 year after surgery, the thoracoscopic group had recovered, while FVC remained reduced in the open group. The decline in FEV1 from before surgery to 3 months after surgery was similar between groups; however, by 1 year after surgery, the thoracoscopic group had more recovery of pulmonary flow than the thoracotomy group. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracoscopic approach causes a smaller decline in pulmonary function 3 months and 1 year after surgery as compared to the more invasive technique of open thoracotomy for anterior spinal instrumentation for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Modification of thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Morbidity, use of analgesics, postoperative drainage, and hospital stay are reduced after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax. However, some surgeons prefer a minithoracotomy because the rate of recurrence after thoracoscopic surgery is 5%-10%. A modified thoracoscopic bullectomy is described, which has the advantages of both conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and a minithoracotomy. Of 69 patients who underwent surgery for pneumothorax from January 2002 to February 2003, 13 were treated by conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 21 by the modified thoracoscopic bullectomy. The mean ages were 20.6 years in the conventional group and 23.0 years in the modified group, with follow-up of 25.8 +/- 1.8 months in the conventional group and 20.6 +/- 1.3 months in the modified group. The duration of operation was similar in both groups (49.3 +/- 16.0 vs. 44.2 +/- 19.2 min). Significantly fewer staples were used in the modified group (1.62 +/- 0.74 vs. 2.92 +/- 1.19). The duration of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced in the modified group. The modified thoracoscopic bullectomy is an effective procedure for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thoracoscopic thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis].

A series of 151 thoracoscopic thymectomy performed in the Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of the Fundeni Clinical Institute between April 1999 and April 2004 is analyzed. These were 89.34% from all the thymectomies performed in our department in this period. Thoracoscopic thymectomies were performed on 131 female patients (86.75%) and 20 male patients (23.25%), aged between 8 and 60 years. All patients were previously treated in the Neurological Department of the Fundeni Clinical Institute for at least 3 months. The thoracoscopic thymectomy was indicated for: myasthenia gravis without thymic neoplasia (141 cases), stage I Masaoka thymoma (8 cases), remnant postoperative thymic tissue (3 cases). We have used a left thoracoscopic approach in 73 cases and a right thoracoscopic approach in 76 cases. In 2 cases a mixed cervical and thoracoscopic approach was needed.. No mortality and morbidity 6.62% (10 cases). From this 151 patients 100 have been constantly followed for more then one year. From the other 51, 32 are in the first postoperative year, and the other 19, 12.58% have been lost in surveillance. The one year evaluation regarding the Research Standards of Myasthenia Gravis Task Force Foundation shows: improvement--90% (complete stable remission--14%; pharmacological remission--20%; minimal manifestation--56%), unchanged--8%, worsened--2%. Our results with a complete stable remission of 14% at the end of the first year and 50% at 5 years are at least comparable with literature results with other open or thoracoscopic approaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Feasibility of thoracoscopic pulmonary metastasectomy].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: With the developments in endoscopic surgery and the advances of radiological techniques, thoracoscopic pulmonary metastasectomy has been used more and more widely. This study was to evaluate the feasibility of thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary metastases. METHODS: The clinical data of 17 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary metastasectomy were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All pulmonary metastases in the 17 patients were peripherally located and encountered during follow-up after treatment of primary disease. Metastases at other sites were excluded. Among the 17 cases of metastases, 10 were solitary metastasis, 4 were unilateral multiple metastases, 3 were bilateral metastases. All patients underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection. No major complications, operative mortality, and port site metastasis presented. Postoperative locoregional relapse occurred in 5 patients, in which 4 patients had multiple metastases, the rest 1 patient with soft tissue sarcoma underwent a second thoracoscopic resection of recurrent pulmonary lesion. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 77.3%, 53.1%, and 34.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic resection is feasible and effective for patients with a solitary pulmonary metastasis, especially when the lesion is smaller than 3 cm and peripherally located. Bilateral pulmonary metastases may also be resected by primary thoracoscopic operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of open versus thoracoscopic lung biopsy for diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates often require biopsy for a diagnosis. Standard operative therapy, open wedge resection via thoracotomy, is associated with known morbidity. We hypothesized that closed thoracoscopic wedge resection may result in reduced morbidity and decreased duration of hospital stay. This retrospective study compares open resection with thoracoscopic wedge resection in patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates underwent diagnostic lung biopsy. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation and high levels of pressure support before biopsy were excluded from the study. Between March 1987 and September 1991, a total of 28 patients underwent open wedge resection via lateral thoracotomy. Since April 1991, a total of 47 patients underwent thoracoscopic resection. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in age, sex, presence of immunosuppression, or final pathologic diagnosis. Adequate tissue was obtained for pathologic diagnosis in all patients of both groups. All surgeons believed that thoracoscopic biopsy provided better visualization of the entire lung than did a limited thoracotomy. Mean operative time was 69 minutes for open biopsies and 93 minutes for thoracoscopic biopsies [p = 0.038]. Mean duration of chest tube drainage was not significantly different between the two groups. Duration of hospital stay was significantly less for thoracoscopic biopsy (4.9 days) than for open biopsy (12.2 days) (p = 0.018). Fourteen of 28 open biopsies resulted in complications compared with 9 of 47 closed biopsies (p = 0.009). There were 6 deaths among patients having open biopsies and 3 deaths among those having closed biopsies (p = not significant). CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in hospital stay was noted with thoracoscopic biopsy when compared with lung biopsy via the standard open approaches. Thoracoscopy provided excellent visualization and allowed for wedge resection that provided adequate tissue for diagnosis in patients with diffuse pulmonary interstitial disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Experience in thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis with concomitant pleural adhesion.

Thoracoscopic (transthoracic endoscopic) sympathectomy, known worldwide as the best method for treatment of hyperhidrosis, is regarded as having two major contraindications: pleural adhesion and coagulopathy. We embarked on this study to prove that it is possible and highly feasible to do thoracoscopic sympathectomy, even in the presence of severe pleural adhesion, as long as the surgeon knows anatomy and is well-trained in performing this procedure. From October 1, 1989, through December 31, 1992, we treated 719 cases of hyperhidrosis palmaris (325 male and 394 female patients), by the thoracoscopic method at Tainan Municipal Hospital. Among them, 24 cases (3.5%), 19 male and 5 female patients, had concomitant pleural adhesions. The causes of pleural adhesion were pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, previous operations for hyperhidrosis, and a few with uncertain origins. Except for the first encountered case of hyperhidrosis with pleural adhesion, which was treated by mini-thoracotomy after failure of a thoracoscopic approach through the right thoracic cavity, the remainder of the 23 cases were treated successfully by the thoracoscopic method. In cases with bilateral pleural adhesions, the right thoracic cavity was more frequently involved and more severely. The incidence of pleural adhesion in hyperhidrosis is 3.5% in our series; all, except the first case, were treated thoracoscopically. Coagulopathy is for us, therefore, the only remaining contraindication of thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Thoracoscopic surgery for diagnosis and treatment of pleural and mediastinal disease].

We studied the usefulness of thoracoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of pleural and mediastinal lesions. 1. Thoracoscopic surgery was the best method for biopsy of pleural lesions or effusion-retaining disease. Thoracoscopic surgery allowed extensive intrathoracic inspection and collection of relatively large tissue samples, even though it is less invasive than thoracotomy. 2. Thoracoscopic biopsy was useful in the diagnosis of tumorous lesions of the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the mediastinum. 3. Thoracoscopic surgery is indicated for treatment of the following five pleural diseases: (1) benign pleural tumors; (2) localized mesothelioma; (3) persistent pleural effusions; (4) pyothorax; and (5) chylothorax. 4. Benign mediastinal tumor is a clear indication for thoracoscopic surgery, but utmost caution must be exercised in applying this technique to the treatment of malignant tumors. 5. Thoracoscopic extended thymectomy with a collar incision of the neck is a useful and relatively non-invasive technique for the treatment of myasthenia gravis without thymoma.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1979

Thoracoscopy. A safe, accurate diagnostic procedure using the rigid thoracoscope and local anesthesia.

A thoracoscopic examination was performed in 41 patients under local anesthesia in the lateral decubitus position. Prior thoracocentesis (38 patients) and blind biopsy with an Abrams' needle (32 patients) had been nondiagnostic. The initial nine patients were examined with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, yielding a diagnostic accuracy of 56 percent (five cases). This technique was discontinued when two patients had normal findings on biopsies, despite the visual observation of later diagnosed carcinoma. Subsequent thoracoscopic procedures were performed with a rigid 11-mm single-puncture thoracoscope (Storz), which was diagnostic in 28 (88 percent) of the remaining 32 patients. A hemothorax (400 ml) was the only potentially serious complication. Twelve patients were prospectively monitored during the thoracoscopic procedure for changes in cardiac rhythm and oxygen saturation. Sinus tachycardia was the only arrhythmia observed. The mean fall in oxygen saturation was 1.4 percent. We conclude that thoracoscopic examination with the rigid thoracoscope is diagnostically superior to the fiberoptic bronchoscope and is a safe procedure which can be performed under local anesthesia.

Anesthesia, Local↗
PubMed1998

[A voice-controlled robot assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary tumor].

We herein report a case of voice-controlled robot assisted thoracoscopic surgery for a right apical tumor in a 55-year-old male. The patient was referred to our hospital for further examination of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. A chest computed tomographic scan indicated a suspicion of malignancy. Thoracoscopic surgery using a voice-controlled robot was conducted. The thoracoscope connected with the robotic arm was inserted through the trocar. In all maneuvers (forward and backward, right and left, up and down, insertion and extraction), the robotic arm moved appropriately immediately after the voice commands were issued, and favorable operative fields were obtained. Thoracoscopic partial resection of the involved lung was successfully performed with no complications. The operative time was 140 min. The postoperative course was uneventful. Voice-controlled robotic technology innovations may become the operating surgeon's third arm in the future. They will be further used not only in laparoscopic but also in thoracoscopic surgical procedures. Regular use will lead to greater skill in thoracoscopic application with the advent of new robotically assisted endoscopic surgery.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed1995

Can the morbidity of esophagectomy be reduced by the thoracoscopic approach?

Esophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. We have made a prospective study of the results of 29 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 20 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 22 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient, and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. There were five failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (one case), large tumor making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (two cases), and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (two cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in all but five patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (three cases), right purulent pleural effusion (one case), acute respiratory disease syndrome (one case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of five respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered difficult. Among the other complications, there were five anastomotic leakages and three cases of laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for esophageal dissection, especially with respect to difficult esophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Thoracoscopic pulmonary resection in two cases using an endoscopic linear stapler and loop ligature.

Recent advances in rigid endoscopic imaging capabilities, light sources, and instrumentation have dramatically expanded the potential role of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery. Moreover, the recent introduction of an endoscopic linear stapling device and loop ligature has made thoracoscopic pulmonary resection possible. We present herein two cases of peripheral pulmonary lesions which were resected thoracoscopically. Case 1 was a 19-year-old man with a history of recurrent pneumothorax due to a left apical bulla who underwent thoracoscopic lung resection using a new stapling device, and Case 2 was a 46-year-old man with a small pulmonary lesion on the left basal segment (S8) who underwent thoracoscopic lung resection using loop ligature. Postoperatively, there was no evidence of air leak in either patient and both were discharged 6 days after surgery. The technical procedures for thoracoscopic lung resection and the clinical courses of both patients are described in this paper.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thoracoscopic Hellers myotomy for oesophageal achalasia.

Surgical myotomy is the mainstay of treatment for oesophageal achalasia. Minimally invasive surgical techniques, if feasible, reduce patient morbidity and mortality. In this study we review our experience of thoracoscopic Heller's myotomy. Thoracoscopic myotomy was undertaken in 9 patients (male = 3; female = 6, mean age = 37). All patients presented with dysphagia of 1 to 8 yr duration. Diagnosis was based on barium swallow and manometry. Two patients had previous dilatations and 1 had a transabdominal myotomy. All patients had a 5 port thoracoscopic technique. Thoracoscopic Heller's myotomy was completed in 8 out of 9 patients. In 1 patient extensive oesophagitis and peri-oesophagitis precluded both a thoracoscopic and an open myotomy, and oesophagectomy was subsequently performed. The mean duration of surgery was 142 min. Completion of myotomy and mucosal integrity was confirmed by intraoperative gastroscopy. All patients had an uneventful post-operative recovery. The mean hospital stay was 4 days. All patients are now asymptomatic, with documented weight gain. No patients have reflux oesophagitis symptoms. Our preliminary experience would suggest that thoracoscopic Heller's myotomy is a safe alternative to open surgery, with satisfactory results and reduced hospital stay.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Extrapleural thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Traditionally, open repair of esophageal atresia (EA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) required thoracotomy. Innovations in minimal access surgery have created a thoracoscopic technique resulting in violation of the pleural space. Most pediatric surgeons favor an extrapleural approach for open repair. We present a novel minimal access, extrapleural technique for repairing EA with TEF. A 2-day-old infant with EA and distal TEF underwent thoracoscopic extrapleural repair that utilized three ports. Initial creation of the extrapleural space was achieved through one of the port sites and was completed thoracoscopically. A thoracoscopic repair of EA with distal TEF was achieved within the extrapleural space. A small tear in the pleura was inadvertently created during the dissection. The child began feeding normally. At 1 year of age, the patient had dysphagia requiring a single esophageal dilatation. This is the first known report of an extrapleural thoracoscopic repair of EA with TEF. Although thoracoscopic repairs of EA/TEF have been previously reported, these were all done transpleurally. Many pediatric surgeons favor the extrapleural approach for two reasons: (1) containment of a potential leak within the extrapleural space, avoiding an empyema, and (2) easier transpleural access for future thoracic procedures.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2004

Left thoracoscopic thymectomy in children.

BACKGROUND: In the management of autoimmune myasthenia, thymectomy is recognized as effective surgical therapy. The necessity of complete radical thymectomy to achieve maximal improvement has been emphasized. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been successfully used for thymectomy in adults, and more recently in children, and has been described as achieving the same radicality and functional improvement as median sternotomy or as transcervical thymectomy. The aim of this work is to report our first thoracoscopic experience in this indication. METHODS: Patients with myasthenia gravis on anticholinesterase drugs and/or steroids are discussed for surgery in case of clinical deterioration despite increasing doses of medication or in case of no improvement. We decided to perform thoracoscopic thymectomies by a left-sided approach. Preoperative localization of thymic tissue is done by a thoracic CT exam. Patients are placed on their right side with a thoracic tilt under the thorax. Four thoracoscopic ports are used, a 10-mm for the camera and three 5-mm operating ports. The left lung was collapsed by selective intubation (double-lumen endotrachial intubation). RESULTS: Two boys, 7.5 and 14 years old, were addressed by the department of neurology for radical thymectomy. They presented an ocular myasthenia gravis for 2 years and a mild general myasthenia gravis for 7 years. The operative times were 120 and 240 min. There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication. Duration of thoracic drainage was 2 days. The children were discharged on the third postoperative day. For the second procedure, an ultrasound exam during surgery was necessary to localize the thymus exactly, thus enabling its complete resection without the need for a conversion. The follow-up is 19 and 7 months with a clinical improvement enabling the diminution of medication for both children, the end of ptosis for the first child, and the general improvement of muscle strength for the second. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic thymectomy in children with juvenile myasthenia gravis seems to offer a complete surgical resection, as do open techniques. In case of difficulties in finding the thymus, an ultrasound exam is feasible to enable complete resection. The left-sided thoracoscopic approach gives a good mediastinal and cervical exposition. Furthermore, being less painful in the postoperative period, it presents a less pronounced impairment of pulmonary function, and it presents good cosmetic effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Ivor-Lewis procedure is a radical, invasive, and effective procedure for the resection of most esophageal cancers. To minimize invasiveness, we performed thoracoscopic and video-assisted esophagectomy and mediastinal dissection for esophageal cancer. METHODS: From November 1995 to June 1997, 23 patients with intrathoracic esophageal cancer, excluding T4 cancers, underwent thoracoscopic and video-assisted esophagectomy. Bilateral cervical dissections were performed as well as preparation of the gastric tube and transhiatal dissection of the lower esophagus. The cervical esophagus was cut using a stapler knife, and esophageal reconstruction was performed through the retrosternal route or anterior chest wall. Next, thoracoscopic mediastinal dissection and esophagectomy were performed. RESULTS: The mean volume of blood loss was 163 +/- 122 ml; mean thoracoscopic surgery duration, 111 +/- 24 min; mean postoperative day for patients to start eating, 8 +/- 3 days; and mean hospital stay, 26 +/- 8 days. No patient developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome postoperatively. Tracheal injury occurred and was repaired during the thoracoscopic approach in one patient. No patients died within 30 days after surgery. Postoperative complications included transient recurrent nerve palsy in five patients, pulmonary secretion retention requiring tracheotomy in two, and chylothorax in one. Five patients died of cancer recurrence within 1 year of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our surgical experience with thoracoscopic and video-assisted esophagectomy indicate that it is a feasible and useful procedure.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗
PubMed1999

Operative technique for thoracoscopic thymectomy.

In most cases, myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymoma require complete removal of the thymus gland and resection of the pericardial fatty tissue. There is some debate however, over which surgical approach is best for thymectomy. We have developed a new technique for complete thoracoscopic thymectomy. Between October 1994 and February 1998, we performed a prospective observational study of thoracoscopic thymectomy in 19 patients. The results were analyzed with special reference to perioperative morbidity, short- and intermediate-term improvement of MG, and quality of life. This study showed the feasibility of complete thoracoscopic thymectomy. The procedure was successfully applied in 19 of 20 cases. Thoracoscopic thymectomy was accomplished with zero mortality and a very low perioperative morbidity. While the short-term improvement of MG after this procedure was comparable to that seen with conventional surgery, the short- and intermediate-term quality of life was much better. The preliminary results of thoracoscopic thymectomy appear to be excellent for both patients and neurologists. A prospective randomized trial has been designed to compare thoracoscopic thymectomy with the gold standard of median sternotomy for thymectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy: technique and initial results.

To reduce the high morbidity rate associated with esophageal surgery, we have developed a technique of thoracoscopic esophagectomy. A feasibility study was first carried out in an animal model and a specific instrument was developed for this purpose. Esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach was attempted in 15 patients, 13 males and 2 females whose average age was 48 years. Indications consisted of squamous cell carcinoma in 10 patients, adenocarcinoma in 1, and caustic stenosis in 4. We used a technique that consisted of double-lumen tracheal intubation and the creation of five ports. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through, and the anastomosis was made in the neck. There were three failures: in 1 patient there was a large tumor, making the exposure unsafe, and, in 2 patients, incomplete lung collapse made exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult. These 3 cases were converted into a thoracotomy. The thoracoscopic dissection was successful in the remaining 12 patients. The average time of the thoracoscopic stage was 125 minutes. The postoperative course was uneventful in 10 patients. Two patients had a left atelectasis. Although our series is limited, these initial results indicate that thoracoscopic esophagectomy is feasible. However, further evaluation of the technique is needed to assess its benefit in terms of respiratory morbidity.

Burns, Chemical↗
PubMed1996

Talc pleurodesis: talc slurry versus thoracoscopic talc insufflation in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Pleurodesis using both talc slurry and thoracoscopic talc insufflation has been shown to be clinically effective. This study compares these two modalities of pleural talc instillation in an animal model. METHODS: Eleven immature pigs underwent general endotracheal anesthesia. On one side, a slurry of 5 g sterile United States Pharmacopeia talc in 50 mL of saline solution was instilled through a thoracostomy tube. On the other side, the lung was deflated and 5 g of dry talc was insufflated under thoracoscopic visualization. The animals were sacrificed 30 days later, and the quality of pleural adhesions was graded from 0 to 2 (0 = absent; 1 = light; 2 = dense) in each of six regions of each hemithorax. The distribution of adhesions on each side was graded from 0 to 6, according to the number of areas that contained adhesions. RESULTS: One animal died of anesthetic complications. Among the survivors, adhesions produced by both methods were dense and diffuse in 8 of 10 animals, and light and diffuse in 1 animal. One animal had light or absent adhesions on the talc slurry side, and dense and diffuse adhesions on the thoracoscopic talc insufflation side. There was no difference between the techniques for density of adhesion scores (talc slurry, 9.9 +/- 2.2; thoracoscopic talc insufflation, 10.0 +/- 2.5) or distribution of adhesion scores (talc slurry, 5.5 +/- 1.0; thoracoscopic talc insufflation, 5.8 +/- 0.4) (p > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Effective pleurodesis in a porcine model can be obtained with either talc slurry or thoracoscopic talc insufflation.

Animals↗