[Thoracoscopy in malignant pleural effusions].

To assess the value of thoracoscopy in malignant pleural effusions, the procedure and results of thoracoscopy by using a fiberoptic bronchoscope and a rigid cold-light thoracoscope in 130 cases with malignant pleural effusion are reported. The overall diagnostic rate was 91.5% (119/130). The malignant pleural mesothelioma in 24 cases and metastatic cancers in 95 cases were histopathologically confirmed. Talcum powder, tetracycline and Corynebacterium parvum were separately sprayed through thoracoscope into pleural cavity in 69, 10 and 10 patients, and the success rates of complete and lasting pleurodesis were 87.0%, 5/10 and 8/10 respectively. Postoperative complications included transient fever and chest pain, local subcutaneous emphysema in 6 cases and tumor seeding at thoracoscopy site in 4 cases. It is concluded that thoracoscopy is simple, safe, reliable and of high practical value in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions and in assessment before exploratory thoracotomy, and that transendoscopical administration of drugs for pleurodesis is a very effective method for controlling malignant pleural effusions. The efficacy of the talc poudrage is better than tetracycline and Corynebacterium parvum.