Diagnostic accuracy and safety of rigid medical thoracoscopy in undiagnosed pleural effusion and ILD: Retrospective study of 100 patients

Aim of studyA retrospective study of diagnostic evaluation, safety and thoracoscopic findings in 100 cases was done at thoracoscopy unit of Chest Department Mansoura University Hospitals in the last two years.ResultsWe studied 100 patients in two groups, first group (G1) consisted of 85 male patients (67.1%) with undiagnosed pleural effusion and the second group (G2) consisted of 15 undiagnosed ILD female patients (60%).Final histopathologic diagnosis in the first group revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma in 35.3%, para-pneumonic 44.7%, TB 10.6%, NHL7.1% and mesothelioma 2.4%, while in the second group it was metastatic adenocarcinoma 6.7%, UIP 46.7%, NSIP 13.3%, TB 6.7%, BAC 13.3%, silicosis 6.7% and lastly LIP in 6.7%.We found that time of ICT removal was significantly lower in the first group with p value 0.001 and complication incidences were variants; fistula was significantly lower in the first group while empyema and surgical emphysema were significantly higher in the first group with p value 0.001.ConclusionVAMT is a good tool for the diagnosis of undiagnosed pleural diseases and is promising in ILDs, safe, and inexpensive with minimally tolerable complications.