Clinics in chest medicine
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This article focuses on thoracoscopy for pleural procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic, and discusses whether there is a difference between pleuroscopy and thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery. How thinking should be structured regarding the management of pleural disease in the modern context of available approaches and interventions is also discussed.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Mar 2013
ReviewThoracentesis and thoracic ultrasound: state of the art in 2013.
Thoracentesis is one of the most common medical procedures performed today. With the advent of thoracic ultrasound, thoracentesis has been enhanced with additional preprocedural, intraprocedural, and postprocedural information. The authors review modern-day thoracentesis and the use of ultrasonography. ⋯ Ultrasound has become an indispensable tool to guide performance of thoracentesis. Ultrasonography for this purpose has several advantages. The authors provide a contemporary review on thoracentesis and the use of ultrasonography.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Mar 2013
ReviewThe evaluation and clinical application of pleural physiology.
Pleural disease is commonly encountered by the chest physician. Evaluation of pleural disease typically begins with thoracentesis and pleural fluid analysis. ⋯ The improved knowledge of pleural physiology can help the clinician in clinical decision making, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of pleural disease. This article reviews pleural physiology and summarizes the relevant data supporting the use of ultrasound and manometry in the evaluation and treatment of pleural disease.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Dec 2012
ReviewIndoor fuel exposure and the lung in both developing and developed countries: an update.
Almost 3 billion people worldwide burn solid fuels indoors. Despite the large population at risk worldwide, the effect of exposure to indoor solid fuel smoke has not been adequately studied. ⋯ Tobacco use further potentiates the development of respiratory disease among subjects exposed to solid fuel smoke. There is a need to perform additional interventional studies in this field.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Dec 2012
ReviewThe classic pneumoconioses: new epidemiological and laboratory observations.
The purpose of this article is to provide an update on selected issues of current interest and recent developments related to 3 types of inorganic mineral dust exposures causing classic forms of pneumoconiosis: coal mine dust, crystalline silica, and asbestos. Common themes include new imaging modalities, emerging exposures, and evolving appreciation of additional adverse health effects associated with exposure to these inorganic mineral dusts.