Complications following symptom-limited thoracentesis using suction.

Background: Thoracentesis using suction is perceived to have increased risk of complications, including pneumothorax and re-expansion pulmonary oedema (REPO). Current guidelines recommend limiting drainage to 1.5 L to avoid REPO.

Incidence of Bleeding Complications With Flexible Bronchoscopy in Cancer Patients With Thrombocytopenia.

Background: Bronchoscopy is a safe procedure, but current guidelines recommend transfusion for platelets <20 K/μL. Studies of bronchoscopy in thrombocytopenia are limited.

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of bleeding with flexible bronchoscopy in those with thrombocytopenia especially those <20 K/μL.

Non-specific pleuritis in patients with active malignancy.

Background And Objective: Pleuroscopy is the test of choice for patients with suspected malignant pleural effusion and negative cytology. Biopsies negative for malignancy are frequently attributed to non-specific pleuritis, which poses a dilemma in patients with a known active malignancy, raising concern for a false-negative result. Our primary objective was to determine the outcomes of patients with active malignancy who had a non-malignant diagnosis on pleuroscopy.

Pleural Touch Preparations and Direct Visualization of the Pleura during Medical Thoracoscopy for the Diagnosis of Malignancy.

Rationale: During diagnostic thoracoscopy, talc pleurodesis after biopsy is appropriate if the probability of malignancy is sufficiently high. Findings on direct visual assessment of the pleura during thoracoscopy, rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) of touch preparations (touch preps) of thoracoscopic biopsy specimens, and preoperative imaging may help predict the likelihood of malignancy; however, data on the performance of these methods are limited.

Objectives: To assess the performance of ROSE of touch preps, direct visual assessment of the pleura during thoracoscopy, and preoperative imaging in diagnosing malignancy.

Indwelling Pleural Catheters for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies. A 14-Year, Single-Center Experience.

Rationale: Placement of an indwelling pleural catheter is an established modality for symptom relief and pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. Concerns remain regarding possible infectious complications, risk of hemorrhage, and the rate of pleurodesis with the use of pleural catheters in the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Objectives: The goals of our study were: (1) to evaluate the safety and cumulative incidence of pleurodesis with indwelling pleural catheters for patients with hematologic malignancies, and (2) to evaluate overall survival of this cohort of patients with pleural effusions.