Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for malignant pleural effusions.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusions (MPE) and to assess the results and complications of the procedure. METHODS A total of 61 patients with the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion were assessed retrospectively between 2004 - 2010, 25 women (40.9%) and 36 men (59.1%), with an age range of 18-78 (mean: 61.3). Video-thoracoscopic surgery was performed under general anesthesia or with local anesthesia in sedated patients. RESULTS No intraoperative complications were observed. In 6 cases, prolonged air leak developed. Pleurodesis was successfully implemented in malignant cases. The chest tube was removed when the amount of fluid was less 50 cc/24 h. The duration of drainage was significantly shorter in patients in whom VATS was performed. CONCLUSION We believe that VATS is an effective method in the diagnosis and palliative treatment of cases with malignant pleural effusions.