[Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy].

Thoracoscopy, an endoscopic examination for pleurisy, can be performed using general anesthesia, usually without intubation, or using a neuroleptic, after induction of artificial pneumothorax if required. At the end of surgery, a thoracic drain is inserted to expand the lung. Complications are rare and mortality is below 0.017%. The main indication for thoracoscopy is diagnosis of pleural effusion, where its sensitivity and specificity are clearly superior to that of needle pleural biopsy and (or) to pleural fluid cytology. In diffuse pulmonary diseases, thoracoscopy also allows lung biopsy. Some therapeutic measures are mainly feasible by this route. Pleurodesis is performed in case of recurrent pleural effusion of for pneumothorax.