[Medical thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of complicate pleural effusion].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of medical thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of the pleural effusion of unknown etiology. METHODS: The results of 36 patients with the pleural disease of unknown etiology diagnosed by medical thoracoscopy were retrospectively analyzed, including the pathologic results and the complications. RESULTS: Among the 36 patients, 35 were determined with positive rate of 97.2%, and no serious complications was found. CONCLUSION: Medical thoracoscopy is an important method of diagnosing complicate pleural effusion, and has high positive rate. It is a simple operation, with no serious complication, and fast recovery.