Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology
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J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol · Apr 2015
Role of medical thoracoscopy and closed-blind pleural biopsy in undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions: a single-center experience of 348 patients.
Medical thoracoscopy (MT) performed either with rigid or the semirigid thoracoscope has been shown to have diagnostic accuracy superior to closed-blind pleural biopsy (CBPB) in exudative pleural effusions (EPE), which remain undiagnosed after thoracentesis. However, in resource-constrained settings, CBPB continues to be performed. In this study, we compare the outcome of thoracoscopy with CBPB. ⋯ MT is the procedure of choice in the evaluation of undiagnosed EPE, due to its higher success rate and an acceptable safety profile. However, in centers where thoracoscopy is not feasible, CBPB should be performed in preference to initiating empiric treatment.
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Aspiration of a live fish is a very uncommon occurrence. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy from rural India who, while fishing, accidentally choked on a live fish, resulting in its lodgement in the left main stem bronchus. We present a brief overview of literature, emphasizing on symptoms, recognition, and management, in an attempt to increase awareness among physicians of this rare entity.