Una encuesta a médicos residentes sobre la realización de toracocentesis diagnósticas y terapéuticas: ¿una laguna en la formación? / A survey to medical residents on the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses: a training gap?

Objetivo. La aspiración de líquido pleural es un procedimiento rutinario para neumólogos e internistas. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar aspectos técnicos y metodológicos de la realización de toracocentesis diagnósticas y terapéuticas por parte de médicos residentes de Neumología y Medicina Interna en sus últimos dos años de formación. Métodos. Se envió una encuesta electrónica de 24 ítems a los participantes y se compararon las respuestas en función de la especialidad. Resultados. Respondieron 139 (17,1%) residentes (71 internistas y 68 neumólogos). Un 29,5% y 43% realizaban solo una o ninguna toracocentesis diagnóstica y terapéutica mensuales, respectivamente. Solamente el 44% utilizaban la ecografía de forma rutinaria para guiar los procedimientos. El uso de anestesia local en las aspiraciones diagnósticas fue sistemático en menos de la mitad de los encuestados. En contra de las recomendaciones establecidas, un 25% de los residentes utilizaban una aguja intramuscular para las toracocentesis terapéuticas. Más del 80% de los residentes solicitaba rutinariamente un cultivo y citología del líquido pleural, al margen de la sospecha diagnóstica. El 40% realizaba siempre una prueba de imagen después de una toracocentesis diagnóstica. La mitad o más de los encuestados desconocían cómo se medía el pH pleural en su centro, el medio de cultivo empleado para micobacterias o si se realizaban bloques celulares del líquido pleural. Los neumólogos eran más experimentados y empleaban con más frecuencia la ecografía pleural que los internistas. Conclusión. Esta encuesta pone de manifiesto algunas deficiencias de conocimientos y ejecución de las toracocentesis diagnósticas y terapéuticas (AU)

Objective. Pleural fluid aspiration is a routine procedure for pulmonologists and internists. Our aim was to evaluate technical and methodological aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses performed by last two-year residents of Pulmonology and Internal Medicine. Methods. An online 24-item questionnaire was sent to participants, and responses were evaluated according to the medical specialty. Results. The survey was completed by 139 (17.1%) residents (71 internists and 68 pulmonologists). 29.5% and 41% performed one or no diagnostic or therapeutic thoracenteses monthly, respectively. Only 44% used ultrasonography to guide pleural procedures. Less than half of respondents used local anesthesia for diagnostic aspirations. Contrary to current recommendations, 25% of residents employed intramuscular needles for therapeutic aspirations. More than 80% of residents routinely ordered pleural fluid cultures and cytological studies, regardless of the clinical suspicion. About 40% requested imaging studies after a diagnostic thoracentesis. Half or more of the respondents were unaware of pH measurement methodologies, culture type for mycobacteria, and performance of cell blocks. Pulmonologists were more experienced than internists, and also made use of ultrasonography more frequently. Conclusion. This survey highlights gaps of knowledge and skills in conducting diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses (AU)

A survey to medical residents on the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses: a training gap? / Una encuesta a médicos residentes sobre la realización de toracocentesis diagnósticas y terapéuticas: ¿una laguna en la formación?

OBJECTIVE: Pleural fluid aspiration is a routine procedure for pulmonologists and internists. Our aim was to evaluate technical and methodological aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses performed by last two-year residents of Pulmonology and Internal Medicine. METHODS: An online 24-item questionnaire was sent to participants, and responses were evaluated according to the medical specialty. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 139 (17.1%) residents (71 internists and 68 pulmonologists). 29.5% and 41% performed one or no diagnostic or therapeutic thoracenteses monthly, respectively. Only 44% used ultrasonography to guide pleural procedures. Less than half of respondents used local anesthesia for diagnostic aspirations. Contrary to current recommendations, 25% of residents employed intramuscular needles for therapeutic aspirations. More than 80% of residents routinely ordered pleural fluid cultures and cytological studies, regardless of the clinical suspicion. About 40% requested imaging studies after a diagnostic thoracentesis. Half or more of the respondents were unaware of pH measurement methodologies, culture type for mycobacteria, and performance of cell blocks. Pulmonologists were more experienced than internists, and also made use of ultrasonography more frequently. CONCLUSION: This survey highlights gaps of knowledge and skills in conducting diagnostic and therapeutic thoracenteses.

[Usefulness of chest sonography in a respiratory medicine unit]. / Utilidad de la ecografía torácica en una unidad de técnicas respiratorias.

Chest ultrasound, a diagnostic technique used mainly by radiologists, is useful for managing pleural effusion. Sonography and computed tomography (CT) are complementary, although the former is more accessible to clinicians because it is safe and easy to use and because results are available quickly. We evaluated the utility of chest sonograms in a respiratory medicine unit managed by pneumologists. During the period under study, requests for CT scans to manage complicated pleural effusions decreased as the use of sonograms increased. We conclude that ultrasound imaging is useful in the hands of pneumologists who use the technique to diagnose pleural effusions.

Utilidad de la ecografía torácica en una unidadde técnicas respiratorias / Usefulness of chest sonography in a respiratory medicine unit

La ecografía torácica es una técnica diagnóstica útil para el tratamiento del derrame pleural, que es realizada fundamentalmente por radiólogos. La ecografía y la tomografía computarizada son complementarias, si bien la rapidez de los resultados, la inocuidad y la sencillez de manejo hacen de la ecografía la técnica más accesible a los clínicos. En este sentido se ha valorado la utilidad de la ecografía torácica en una unidad de técnicas respiratorias manejada por neumólogos. Durante el período estudiado, la solicitud de tomografía computarizada para el tratamiento de los derrames pleurales complicados ha disminuido, al mismo tiempo que se incrementaban el número de ecografías torácicas realizadas. Concluimos que la ecografía, en manos de neumólogos que realizan procedimientos diagnósticos pleurales, es una herramienta útil (AU)

Repeated thoracentesis: an important risk factor for eosinophilic pleural effusion?

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) is a relatively rare clinical condition. Repeated thoracenteses (RTs) are normally considered a frequent cause of EPE. Yet, to our knowledge, there is no firm evidence (apart from anecdotal case reports) supporting such a statement. OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential relationships between the number, type (with or without pleural biopsy) and time elapsed between RTs and the number of eosinophils present in pleural fluid samples. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 273 pleural fluid samples belonging to 120 patients (79 males, 41 females), attended in our institution from 1992 to 2000, whose clinical management had required RTs. Apart from the anthropometric and clinical data of each patient, we included the following variables in the analysis: number of thoracenteses performed in each individual, number of pleural biopsies carried out at each thoracentesis and time between consecutive thoracenteses. We also recorded the total (and differential) leukocyte count, red blood cell count, as well as the main biochemical, microbiological and histological data of both the pleural fluid and peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: We did not observe any significant change in the percentage of eosinophils in relation to the number of thoracenteses performed per patient. This lack of relationship was also observed in the subgroup of patients who required one (or more) pleural biopsies (n = 111) (regardless of the number of biopsies). Our results suggest that RTs are not an important risk factor for the development of EPE, regardless of the time elapsed between two thoracenteses. CONCLUSION: We believe, therefore, that multiple punctures should not longer be considered a prevalent cause of pleural eosinophilia.

[Thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion: a series of five cases]. / Carcinoma de tiroides con invasión traqueal: serie de cinco casos.

We report five cases of thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion. In two patients infiltration was found during thyroid exeresis. Diagnosis was based on respiratory signs such as hemoptysis and stridor in the other three patients. The pathologic diagnosis was papillary carcinoma for four patients and follicular carcinoma for one, the only man in the series. Treatment by thyroidectomy, tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis with node removal was followed by long-term survival. A search for tracheal involvement during thyroidectomy and clinical suspicion were the keys to a good prognosis for these patients.

Carcinoma de tiroides con invasión traqueal: serie de cinco casos / Thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion: a series of five cases

Se presentan 5 pacientes con carcinoma de tiroides y afección traqueal. En dos de ellos el hallazgo de la infiltración traqueal fue intraoperatorio durante la exéresis del tiroides.En los restantes pacientes el diagnóstico se realizó por la presencia de síntomas respiratorios como la hemoptisis y el estridor. El diagnóstico anatomopatológico fue de carcinoma papilar en cuatro casos y un carcinoma folicular que correspondió al único varón de la serie. El tratamiento con tiroidectomía, resección traqueal y anastomosis terminoterminal, con vaciamiento ganglionar se siguió de una larga supervivencia. La búsqueda de la afectación traqueal durante la tiroidectomía y la sospecha clínica fueron decisivas para el buen pronóstico de estos pacientes (AU)

Diagnostic utility of eosinophils in the pleural fluid.

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of eosinophilia in 358 consecutive samples of pleural fluid (all cases corresponded to first thoracentesis), to review the cause of eosinophilic pleural effusions, and to determine whether the presence of eosinophils increases the likelihood of nonmalignant underlying disorders. Eosinophilic pleural effusions were identified in 45 patients (12.6%): malignant underlying conditions were diagnosed in 11 patients (24.4% with eosinophilic effusions) and benign aetiologies were found in 27 patients. Benign aetiologies included uncomplicated paraneumonic effusion in 10 patients, tuberculosis in seven, complicated paraneumonic in five, liver cirrhosis in three, hydronephrosis in one and pulmonary thromboembolism in one. Seven pleural effusions were idiopathic. There was no difference in the prevalence between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic effusions according to the different diagnoses. With parameters of sensitivity, specificity, pretest and post-test probability and positive and negative predictive values for any prevalence figure using the Bayes' theorem and for any value of eosinophils (both in percentage or absolute numbers) in the pleural fluid (receiver operating characteristic curve) an adequate predictor of benign disease was not found. It is concluded that pleural eosinophilia at the initial thoracentesis cannot be considered as a predictor of an underlying benign disorder.

[Pulmonary metastases of malignant melanoma. A rare endobronchial presentation]. / Metástasis pulmonares de melanoma maligno. Presentación infrecuente endobronquial.

Malignant melanoma has a tendency to metastasize to the lung in the course of tumor growth. Many such cases have been described in the literature, although cases of endobronchial metastasis of this type of tumor revealed during fiberoptic bronchoscopy are difficult to find. We report three cases of extension of the primary tumor to the lung, diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy during which biopsy specimens were obtained. After tissue inspection, the initial suspicion of metastasis of malignant melanoma was confirmed. We review the prevalence, radiologic presentation, prognosis and treatment options for this type of metastasis.

Pleural cholesterol in differentiating transudates and exudates. A prospective study of 232 cases.

Two hundred and four patients with pleural effusion were studied to investigate the utility of Light's criteria and pleural fluid cholesterol level (pCHOL) in the identification of exudative pleural effusion (EPE) and transudative pleural effusion (TPE). There were 48 TPE, 56 tumor, 47 tuberculous, 30 metapneumonic and 23 miscellaneous patients. A value > or = 54 mg/dl for pCHOL and > or = 0.32 for the pleura/serum cholesterol ratio (p/sCHOL) showed sensitivity (S) and specificity (Sp) of 95.5% and 91.6% for pCHOL, and 97.4% and 91.6% for p/sCHOL, respectively. Combined pCHOL and/or p/sCHOL showed a S of 98.7% and Sp of 89.5%. Light's criteria achieved a S of 100% and Sp of 64.5%. Combined pCHOL and p/sCHOL revealed a similar accuracy to Light's criteria in EPE diagnosis but was found to be more exact in TPE diagnosis.

[Fiber bronchoscopy in lung cancer: relationship between radiology, endoscopy, histology and diagnostic value in a series of 1801 cases]. / Fibrobroncoscopia en el cáncer de pulmón: relación entre radiología, endoscopia, histología y rendimiento diagnóstico en una serie de 1.801 casos.

A retrospective analysis of 1,801 patients with primary pulmonary neoplasm diagnosed by fiber bronchoscopy between 1977 and 1992 was carried out in order to determine the relation between chest X-rays and endoscopic and histological findings, as well as to assess the diagnostic usefulness of the various endoscopic techniques used. Central tumors numbered 1,598 and peripheral ones 203. The largest tissue classification was squamous (39%) and the most common X-ray finding was pulmonary mass (40%). Endoscopy showed neoplastic infiltration in 49% of the cases and endobronchial tumor in 27%. X-rays showing pulmonary mass, hilar involvement and atelectasis were more often associated with infiltration, tumor and necrosis and with a small-cell tissue type. Bronchial biopsy gave the best diagnostic results in these cases. In cases of solitary pulmonary nodule and pleural effusion, on the other hand, normal endoscopic results with non-specific changes or extrapulmonary involvement, predominated, with adenocarcinoma and non-small cell tissue types. Transbronchial biopsy, especially with radioscopic monitoring, was most useful in these cases. We conclude that chest X-rays and endoscopic results can be used to predict the most likely tissue type in lung cancer and that they can serve as guides for the choice of diagnostic technique.

[The value of pulse oximetry during the performance of a forced spirometry maneuver]. / Valor de la pulsioximetría durante la realización de la maniobra de espirometría forzada.

Given that forced spirometry is the main routine exploration in any laboratory of pulmonary functional assessment, we have analyzed the behaviour of O2 arterial saturation (SaO2) during such maneuver in patients with airflow chronic obstruction (AFCO), in order to verify any potential alterations. We have studied three groups of patients: Group A, control, 17 healthy subjects; group B, 18 patients with AFCO and initial saturation higher than 90%; group C, 15 patients with AFCO and saturation equal to or lower than 90%. Total duration of the maneuver was significantly higher in groups B and C compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In groups A and B, we did not observed any significant reductions in SaO2 with respect to the initial value, although we did observed such differences in group C (p < 0.001). None of the patients presented a subjective clinical disorder, although the absence of both complexity and risk suggest the convenience of including the oximetry as an additional parameter when conducting a forced spirometry in patients with AFCO and respiratory failure.