Thoracoscopic Decortication of Stage III Tuberculous Empyema Is Effective and Safe in Selected Cases

Ameliorated chest drain wound closure in patients undergoing uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection

Background

Although uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been performed for a wide array of thoracic diseases, unsightliness and poor wound healing often occur, particularly when a chest drain is placed postoperatively. Different chest drain wound closure (CWC) methods have been introduced with the benefits of cosmesis and patient satisfaction. We aimed to describe our improved CWC technique in this setting and assess its efficacy.

Methods

A total of consecutive 334 patients undergoing uniportal VATS pulmonary resection with single chest drain placement were investigated from 2016 to 2021. The techniques for CWC were classified into the conventional method (35 patients, group A), continuous suture with removal-free stitches (122 patients, group B), and continuous suture with removal-free barbed suture plus topical skin adhesives (177 patients, group C). Perioperative data and complications related to CWC were analyzed.

Results

Group C had a significantly shorter operative time, postoperative hospital stay, and chest tube days than groups A and B (all p < 0.01). In terms of chest tube-related complications, there were no statistically significant differences in post-removal pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, incisional effusion leakage, wound dehiscence, or infection. Overall, significant differences in scar scale scores were observed between the groups, where the ameliorated group C was superior to the conventional group A (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The improved CWC technique using continuous sutures with removal-free barbed sutures and topical skin adhesives is simple, safe, and effective. This may be a favorable CWC strategy when performing uniportal VATS, with enhanced patient satisfaction.

The tuberculous pleural effusion

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is a common entity with similar epidemiological characteristics to pulmonary TB. It represents a spectrum of disease that can variably self-resolve or progress to TB empyema with severe sequelae such as chronic fibrothorax or empyema necessitans. Coexistence of and progression to pulmonary TB is high. Diagnosis is challenging, as pleural TB is paucibacillary in most cases, but every effort should be made to obtain microbiological diagnosis, especially where drug resistance is suspected. Much attention has been focussed on adjunctive investigations to support diagnosis, but clinicians must be aware that apparent diagnostic accuracy is affected both by the underlying TB prevalence in the population, and by the diagnostic standard against which the specified investigation is being evaluated. Pharmacological treatment of pleural TB is similar to that of pulmonary TB, but penetration of the pleural space may be suboptimal in complicated effusions. Evidence for routine drainage is limited, but evacuation of the pleural space is indicated in complicated disease.

Educational aims

To demonstrate that pleural TB incorporates a wide spectrum of disease, ranging from self-resolving lymphocytic effusions to severe TB empyema with serious sequelae.To emphasise the high coexistence of pulmonary TB with pleural TB, and the importance of obtaining sputum for culture (induced if necessary) in all cases.To explore the significant diagnostic challenges posed by pleural TB, and consequently the frequent lack of information about drug sensitivity prior to initiating treatment.To highlight the influence of underlying TB prevalence in the population on the diagnostic accuracy of adjunctive investigations for the diagnosis of pleural TB.To discuss concerns around penetration of anti-TB medications into the pleural space and how this can influence decisions around treatment duration in practice.

The safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant tuberculous empyema

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant tuberculous empyema (TE).

METHODS

We analysed all patients with stage III TE who underwent decortication between March 2015 and October 2019 at Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to drug-susceptibility testing of bronchoscopy lavage fluid, pleural effusion and tissue specimens, including a drug-resistant group and a drug-sensitive group. We collected and compared the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data from the 2 groups to evaluate the safety and efficacy of decortication for stage III drug-resistant TE.

RESULTS

In total, 135 cases met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled, including 30 cases in the drug-resistant group and 105 cases in the drug-sensitive group. No deaths were recorded for the entire study population. Compared to the drug-sensitive group, the drug-resistant group had longer operation times (259.8 ± 78.4 min vs 187.2 ± 56.0 min, P = 0.00), a larger volume of intraoperative blood loss [300 (200,400) ml vs 200 (130, 300) ml, P = 0.00] and a higher intraoperative transfusion rate (5/30, 16.7% vs 4/105, 3.8%, P = 0.04). The rate of complications was significantly higher in the drug-resistant group (23; 76.7%) than in the drug-sensitive group (53; 50.5%) (P = 0.01). Recurrence was not reported in any of the patients. Twenty-three (76.7%) patients in the drug-resistant group and 90 (85.7%) patients in the drug-sensitive group recovered to an "excellent" level, and 3 cases in each group recovered to a "poor" level; there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in surgical effects (P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Decortication is a safe, effective and feasible option for patients with stage III drug-resistant TE, although the operation is difficult and risky.

Which Role for Muscle-Sparing Posterolateral Thoracotomy in the Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax?

Objective  This study aims to show the place of muscle-sparing posterolateral thoracotomy in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods  It was a single-center study performed in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Teaching hospital Hassan II of Fez for 8 years. We adopted the nosological definition, which classifies spontaneous pneumothorax into three categories. We included patients over 15 years of age with primary or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax operated by posterolateral thoracotomy without muscle section, and we analyzed the specific indications of this approach. It included 49 patients with primary or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, operated by muscle-sparing posterolateral thoracotomy. Data were collected from regularly updated computer files of patients, entered by Excel 2013, and analyzed using SPSS.20 software. These data are: epidemiological, clinical, radiological, surgical exploration, surgical procedure, the result of the surgery and the evolution. Results  The average age was 42 years. Smoking was found in 61% of cases and pulmonary tuberculosis in 10% of cases. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed bullae and blebs in 31% of cases, pleural adhesions and pachypleuritis in 50% of cases, and hydropneumothorax with pachypleuritis in 37% of cases. There is a statistical correlation between pleuropulmonary decortication and pachypleuritis ( p  = 0.002) or hydropneumothorax ( p  = 0.001) on CT. Bullae and blebs resection was performed in 53% of cases and pleuropulmonary decortication in 63% of cases. A right pleuropneumonectomy was performed in one case. The follow-up was uneventful in 82% of cases. Conclusion  Muscle-sparing posterolateral thoracotomy remains the best approach and leads to good results.

Pyopneumothorax Secondary to Pulmonary Tuberculosis Superadded by Congenital Factor XIII Deficiency: A Case Report

Pyopneumothorax is a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Additionally, factor XIII deficiency, a rare bleeding disorder, may pose a diagnostic challenge due to normal results in routine coagulation tests. We present the case of an 18-year-old boy who presented with a history of left-sided pyopneumothorax secondary to drug-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis, complicated by congenital factor XIII deficiency. After three months of intercostal drainage placement, the patient developed severe anemia and bleeding tendencies, necessitating a referral to clinical hematology. Genetic testing revealed factor XIII deficiency. This case highlights the complicated interplay between tuberculosis-related complications and a coexisting genetic disorder, highlighting the importance of comprehensive clinical assessment and multidisciplinary management.

Open decortication for patients presenting with stage III tuberculous empyema with low density lines on CT imaging

To explore the influence of CT findings on the optimal timing of open decorticationin patients with stage III tuberculous empyema. A total of 80 patients with stage III tuberculous empyema who had undergone open decortications were recruited; 44 patients had chest CT findings indicating low-density lines, while 36 patients did not show this imaging finding. Demographic data, perioperative data and preoperative and postoperative chest CT images were collected. In the low-density line group, the duration of disease (P = 0.0030) and the preoperative anti-tuberculosis time (P = 0.0016) were longer than those of the group without low-density lines, and the ESR (P = 0.0218), CRP (P = 0.0027) and leukocyte count (P = 0.0339) were lower in the low-density line group. Additionally, in the median operative time (P = 0.0003), intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.0001), volume of catheter drainage during 48 h after operation (P = 0.0067), chest tube duration (P < 0.0001), and length of hospital stay (P = 0.0154) were significantly lower in the low-density line group than in the group without low-density lines. A total of 88.64% of participants in the low-density line group showed hyperplasia with hyaline degeneration in pathological examination, which was observed only in 41.67% of patients without low-density lines. In addition, gaseous necrosis was considerably higher in patients without a low-density line (P = 0.004), while the low-density line group had a higher rate of treatment success (P < 0.05). Patients with stage III tuberculous empyema presenting with low-density lines around the thickened fibrous pleural rind on preoperative CT imaging may be good candidates for open decortication.

A 2.5-cm single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for stage III tuberculous empyema: a case report

BACKGROUND

Stage III tuberculous empyema is a common disease of tuberculosis. Traditionally, it has been treated by thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with two to four incisions. But conventional surgery has large trauma, large bleeding volume and long recovery time. To our knowledge it is the first report of surgery for stage III tuberculous empyema with a mini single-port approach.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 23-year-old woman admitted to our hospital with complaints of intermittent chest pain for half a year. We got the diagnosis of stage III tuberculous empyema after medical treatment. Considering that the patient was young and unmarried, we decided to perform minimally invasive pleural decortication through a 2.5 cm single port. The operation time was 240 min, and blood loss was 100 ml. The patient recovered well and postoperative pain was mild.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that single-port VATS with a smaller incision for the Stage III tuberculous empyema should be considered in well selected patients.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Pleural Effusion. Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery. Update 2022

Pleural effusion (PE) is a common yet complex disease that requires specialized, multidisciplinary management. Recent advances, novel diagnostic techniques, and innovative patient-centered therapeutic proposals have prompted an update of the current guidelines. This document provides recommendations and protocols based on a critical review of the literature on the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and new therapeutic options in PE, and addresses some cost-effectiveness issues related to the main types of PE.

The efficacy and safety of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery on the treatment for stage II-III tuberculous empyema: a single-arm clinical retrospective study from 2016 to 2021 in a thoracic surgery center in China

Background

Surgery is an important adjuvant treatment for tuberculous empyema(TE). We thus conducted a single arm-clinical retrospective study of stage II-III TE patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (Uni-VATS) over a 5-year period to evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgery on TE, so as to provide the evidence for the optimal clinical strategies.

Methods

Patients diagnosed as TE with withdrawal of anti-tuberculosis-VATS were retrospectively enrolled from January 2016 to December 2021. All patients were followed up untill 12 months after withdrawal of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). Clinical characteristics and surgical details were observed and analyzed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the minimally invasive surgery.

Results

Totally 439 cases met included criteria were enrolled, no deaths were reported. The mean operative time was 2.6 (1.9, 4.3) hours and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 356 (240, 940) ml. Blood transfusion was performed in 20.50% (90/439) of patients and additional pneumonectomy was occurred in 9.89%(37/439)of patients .The mean postoperative drainage time was 12 (7, 49) days and the mean hospital stay was 6 (4,12) days. All stage II TE achieved complete lung re-expansion after surgery while 84.22%(315/374) of stage III achieved complete lung re-expansion, p 0.00. 15.78% (59/374) of stage III TE achieved incomplete re-expansion, 4 of which underwent a second decortication by Uni-VATS. Recurrences rate was 2.96% (13/439), including 11 cases of early recurrence and 2 cases of late recurrence at TE stage III, 5 of which underwent a second decortication by Uni-VATS.

Conclusion

Uni-VATS is highly effective safe and minimally invasive for patients with TE, which could be recommended as the mainstream operation in areas with high TB burden.

Performance of TB-LAMP in the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Empyema Using Samples Obtained From Pleural Decortication

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of TB-LAMP in the diagnosis of TB empyema using pleural tissue specimens obtained during pleural decortication.

Methods

Using the clinical records and the different diagnostic test results of patients who underwent pleural decortication in a TB-designated hospital over 3.5 years, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity positive predictive, and negative predictive values of the pathology, MGIT 960 culture, and TB-LAMP obtained by using pleural tissue specimens against the etiologic diagnosis and composite clinical reference standard (CCRS) as the reference standards.

Result

A total of 304 patients' records were extracted. All these patients had gone through pleural decortication. When the etiologic diagnosis was used as the reference, the sensitivity of TB-LAMP in identifying TB empyema was 77.8% (compared to 10.6% of MGIT 960 P < 0.05). The sensitivity of MGIT 960, pathology, and TB-LAMP was 8.2%, 77.7%, and 67.2% against CCRS as the reference; and the specificity of the three was 100.0, 100.0, and 96.2% against the same standard. A combination of pathology and TB-LAMP would increase the sensitivity and specificity to 84.7 and 96.0%. Using TB-LAMP to diagnose TB empyema using pleural tissue samples obtained from pleural decortication was faster with satisfactory performance.

Conclusion

TB-LAMP has great potential in faster and more accurate diagnosis of TB empyema. Our findings provide insights for optimizing diagnostic algorithms for TB empyema.

Pleural Tuberculosis

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is common and often follows a benign course but may result in serious long-term morbidity. Diagnosis is challenging because of the paucibacillary nature of the condition. Advances in Mycobacterium culture media and PCR-based techniques have increased the yield from mycobacteriologic tests. Surrogate biomarkers perform well in diagnostic accuracy studies but must be interpreted in the context of the pretest probability in the individual patient. Confirming the diagnosis often requires biopsy, which may be acquired through thoracoscopy or image-guided closed pleural biopsy. Treatment is standard anti-TB therapy, with optional drainage and intrapleural fibrinolytics or surgery in complicated cases.

Comparison of outcome of surgery for tubercular and nontubercular empyema: An analysis of 285 consecutive cases

Background

Few studies have compared the surgical outcomes between tubercular empyema (TE) and nontubercular empyema (NTE), which were limited by a small sample size. We conducted this study with the objective of comparing the surgical outcomes of patients with tuberculous and nontuberculous empyema.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 285 consecutively operated cases of TE and NTE over 5 years conducted in a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India. A comparative analysis of demography, intraoperative, and postoperative variables including mortality between the two groups was carried out.

Results

Out of 285 patients, 166 were tubercular and 119 were nontubercular. Nontubercular group had significantly higher age (45.4 ± 17.2 vs. 31.2 ± 13.6 in years), more comorbidities. Procedure was started by thoracotomy in 25.9% of tubercular group and 41.1% of nontubercular group. In patients where procedure started by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), complete decortication could be achieved by VATS in 91.1% of TE patients, whereas it was possible in 77.2% of nontubercular group. Need for postoperative ventilation (10% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.0011) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (25.2% vs. 3%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher in nontubercular group. Nontubercular group was found to have significantly higher number of complications (13.4% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.02) and postoperative mortality (10% vs. 0, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Higher percentage of TE cases were managed by VATS with reduced operative time, less blood loss, and lower conversions. Need for postoperative ventilation, ICU stay, and complications including mortality were more in NTE.

Role of Anti-Tuberculous Treatment in the Outcome of Decortication for Chronic Tuberculous Empyema

Introduction: Chronic tuberculous empyema (CTE) is a common complication of tuberculosis that requires some form of surgical intervention along with anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT). The aim of this study was to determine the optimum duration of pre-operative ATT in CTE prior to the decortication and its outcomes.

Material and Methods: This comparative prospective study was conducted from August 2019 to August 2020 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 70 patients were included in the study. They were grouped into two arms: patients operated at or within six weeks of ATT commencement (Group A) and patients operated after six weeks of ATT (Group B). Both groups had 35 participants each. Patients were evaluated based on a self-administered questionnaire. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Result: In this study, there were 55 (78.6%) males and 15 (21.4%) females with a mean age of 33.5 ± 11.2 years. Diagnosis of CTE was most commonly made through sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear (n=35, 50%) which most commonly involved right upper (n=20, 28.6%) and lower lung lobes (n=20, 28.6%). Complications such as air leaks, need for ventilator support, need for intensive care unit (ICU) stay, residual collection, and pneumothorax all were significantly higher in Group A (31 patients out of 35) compared to Group B (18 patients out of 35). In Group B, 21 (60%) participants had full post-operative expansion of lungs, compared to eight (22.8%) in Group A (p=0.002). In total five participants had failure to expand lungs; all of them belonged to Group A (p=0.02).

Conclusion: The optimum timing of surgery and preoperative ATT is crucial for achieving better outcomes and requires good collaboration between the treating pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon. Our study highlights the importance of pre-operative ATT for at least more than six weeks before undertaking decortication for better outcomes and minimizing morbidity.

Factors Associated With the Presence of Tuberculous Empyema in Children With Pleural Tuberculosis

Background: Until now, the factor of tuberculous empyema (TE) in children with pleural tuberculosis (TB) remains unclear. Therefore, a retrospective study was conducted to assess the factors associated with the presence of TE in children. Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2019, consecutive children patients (≤ 15 years old) with suspected pleural TB were selected for further analysis. Empyema was defined as grossly purulent pleural fluid. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic features were collected from the electrical medical records retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to explore the factors associated with the presence of TE in children with pleural TB. Results: A total of 154 children with pleural TB (definite, 123 cases; possible, 31 cases) were included in our study and then were classified as TE (n = 27) and Non-TE (n = 127) groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that surgical treatment (age- and sex-adjusted OR = 92.0, 95% CI: 11.7, 721.3), cavity (age- and sex-adjusted OR = 39.2, 95% CI: 3.2, 476.3), pleural LDH (>941 U/L, age- and sex-adjusted OR = 14.8, 95% CI: 2.4, 90.4), and temperature (>37.2°C, age- and sex-adjusted OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.53) were associated with the presence of TE in children with pleural TB. Conclusion: Early detection of the presence of TE in children remains a challenge and several characteristics, such as surgical treatment, lung cavitation, high pleural LDH level, and low temperature, were identified as factors of the presence of TE in children with pleural TB. These findings may improve the management of childhood TE.

Predictors of Mortality after Surgery for Empyema Thoracis in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background

Surgical treatment of empyema thoracis in patients with chronic kidney disease is challenging, and few studies in the literature have evaluated this issue. In this study, we aim to report the surgical outcomes of empyema and to analyze factors predicting perioperative mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Methods

This retrospective study included data from 34 patients with chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for 3 or more months) who underwent surgery for empyema between 2012 and 2020. An analysis of demographic characteristics and perioperative variables, including complications, was carried out. Postoperative mortality was the primary outcome measure.

Results

Patients' age ranged from 20 to 74 years with a 29-to-5 male-female ratio. The majority (n=19, 55.9%) of patients were in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring maintenance hemodialysis. The mean operative time was 304 minutes and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 562 mL. Postoperative morbidity was observed in 70.5% of patients (n=24). In the subgroup analysis, higher values for operative time, blood loss, intensive care unit stay, and complications were found in ESRD patients. The mortality rate was 38.2% (n=13). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group >2) (p=0.03), ESRD (p=0.02), and late referral (>8 weeks) (p<0.001) significantly affected mortality.

Conclusion

ESRD, late referral, and poor functional status were poor prognostic factors predicting postoperative mortality. The decision of surgery should be cautiously assessed given the very high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Pleural empyema in children - benefits of primary thoracoscopic treatment

Introduction

Pleural empyema is the condition of the pleural cavity when initially sterile pleural effusion has become infected. In the majority of cases, it is of parapneumonic origin. Parapneumonic effusions and pleural empyemata usually continuously progress in severity. The American Thoracic Society divides them into three stages: exudative, fibrinopurulent and organizing. The therapy depends on the stage.

Aim

To assess whether thoracoscopy should be considered better than conservative treatment and to assess the feasibility of the thoracoscopic approach to the 3^rd phase of pleural empyema.

Material and methods

The clinical course of 115 patients treated from 1996 to 2017 was analyzed. 45 patients operated on thoracoscopically after the failure of conventional treatment were compared with 70 patients treated by primary thoracoscopic drainage and decortication.

Results

The results of the study demonstrated that patients treated primarily by thoracoscopy had a shortened length of hospital stay (16.6 vs. 19.3 days), reduced drainage time (7.9 vs. 9.8 days), and shorter time of general therapy (31.8 vs. 38.0 days). They required fibrinolysis less frequently (12.8 vs. 26.7% of patients) and had reduced risk of reoperation (10 vs. 15.6% of cases). Operation time in the 3^rd stage was only 15 min longer. The difference in length of hospital stay was only 0.8 days in favor of less severe cases.

Conclusions

The thoracoscopic approach is safely feasible in the 3^rd stage of pleural empyema and should be considered as the preferred approach. Furthermore, the post-operative stay and general course of the disease are milder whenever surgery would not be delayed by prolonged conservative treatment attempts.

Does an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol affect perioperative surgical outcomes in stage III tubercular empyema? A comparative analysis of 243 patients

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in tuberculous empyema surgery have the potential for improved outcomes, but have not been studied widely. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes after implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients undergoing surgery for tubercular empyema.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for tuberculous empyema in a dedicated thoracic surgery center from March 2012 to March 2019 was performed. The control group included patients operated on between March 2012 and March 2016. The enhanced recovery after surgery protocol was strictly introduced into our practice from April 2016. The study group included patients operated on between April 2016 and March 2019. All perioperative outcomes were measured, documented, analyzed, and compared between the two groups. There were 166 patients in the control group and 77 in the study group.

RESULTS

Intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0001), prolonged air leak (p = 0.04), chest tube duration (p = 0.005), and length of stay (p = 0.003) were significantly reduced in the study group. Overall rates of postoperative complications (p = 0.04) including wound infection (p = 0.01) were also significantly lower in the study group.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients undergoing surgery for tuberculous empyema is feasible and effective. Application of such a protocol leads to less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stay and duration of chest drainage, and fewer complications. Application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols are strongly recommended in tubercular empyema surgery.

Uniportal Thoracoscopic Decortication for Stage III Tuberculous Empyema With Severe Rib Crowding

BACKGROUND

This study explored the safety and feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) decortication in patients presenting with stage III tuberculous empyema with severe rib crowding.

METHODS

From August 2017 to January /2019, 33 patients with stage III tuberculous empyema and severe rib crowding underwent uniportal VATS decortication with partial rib resection and the use of a customized periosteal stripper. Preoperative and postoperative chest computed tomography (CT) imaging and pulmonary function testing were analyzed to evaluate the clinical significance of certain imaging findings and surgical efficacy.

RESULTS

There was 1 conversion to open thoracotomy. Median operative time was 3.5 hours (range, 2.1-4.5 hours) and the median blood loss was 500 mL (range, 250-1000 mL). There were no perioperative mortalities. The incidence of prolonged air leaks (>5 days) was 81.8%. Median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days (range, 4-5 days). All patients were discharged with 2 chest tubes, and median duration drainage was 39 days (range, 30-60 days). The presence of a low-density line between the parietal fibrous pleural rind and chest wall was demonstrated on chest CT in 13 patients. Intraoperative blood loss was considerably lower in these patients compared with those without this imaging finding. Follow-up was complete in all patients over a median of 8 months (range, 6-11.5 months). All patients recovered well and achieved notable improvement in pulmonary function.

CONCLUSIONS

Uniportal VATS decortication is safe and effective. Patients presenting with a low-density line around the thickened fibrous pleural rind on preoperative chest CT scan may be good candidates.

Diagnostic Value of Pleural Effusion Mononuclear Cells Count and Adenosine Deaminase for Tuberculous Pleurisy Patients in China: A Case-Control Study

Background: The diagnostic value of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count for tuberculous pleurisy (TBP) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count and its combination with adenosine deaminase (ADA) in TBP patients. Methods: We initially analyzed 296 patients with unknown pleural effusion from the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Provincial People's Hospital during January 2014 to February 2018. Ultimately, 100 tuberculous pleurisy (TBP) patients and 105 non-tuberculous pleurisy (non-TBP) patients with pleural effusion were investigated in the current study. Meanwhile, pleural effusion mononuclear cells count and ADA test were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value for TBP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count only and its combination with ADA for TBP diagnosis were investigated. Results: (i) The best cut-off value of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count for TBP diagnosis was 969.6 × 10⁶/L, with the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 76, 57, and 66%, respectively. (ii) Combination of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count and ADA test suggested diagnostic value for TBP. Specifically, serial test showed the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of 65, 90, 78%, respectively, whereas parallel test revealed the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of 92, 45, 68%, respectively. The sensitivity of parallel test (92%) was significantly higher than pleural effusion mononuclear cells count alone (76%) (X² = 23.19, p < 0.001). (iii) The area under the ROC of pleural effusion mononuclear cells count and it combined with ADA were 0.66 (95% CI, 0.59-0.72) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.78-0.89), respectively, with statistically significant difference (Z = 3.46, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This retrospective case-control study demonstrated that pleural effusion mononuclear cells count is relatively useful for TBP diagnosis. Furthermore, the pleural effusion mononuclear cells count in combination with ADA can further improve the diagnostic accuracy of TBP.

Tuberculous pleural effusion

Tuberculous effusion is a common disease entity with a spectrum of presentations from a largely benign effusion, which resolves completely, to a complicated effusion with loculations, pleural thickening and even frank empyema, all of which may have a lasting effect on lung function. The pathogenesis is a combination of true pleural infection and an effusive hypersensitivity reaction, compartmentalized within the pleural space. Diagnostic thoracentesis with thorough pleural fluid analysis including biomarkers such as adenosine deaminase and gamma interferon achieves high accuracy in the correct clinical context. Definitive diagnosis may require invasive procedures to demonstrate histological evidence of caseating granulomas or microbiological evidence of the organism on smear or culture. Drug resistance is an emerging problem that requires vigilance and extra effort to acquire a complete drug sensitivity profile for each tuberculous effusion treated. Nucleic acid amplification tests such as Xpert MTB/RIF can be invaluable in this instance; however, the yield is low in pleural fluid. Treatment consists of standard anti-tuberculous therapy or a guideline-based individualized regimen in the case of drug resistance. There is low-quality evidence that suggests possible benefit from corticosteroids; however, they are not currently recommended due to concomitant increased risk of adverse effects. Small studies report some short- and long-term benefit from interventions such as therapeutic thoracentesis, intrapleural fibrinolytics and surgery but many questions remain to be answered.

Pleural tuberculosis: A concise clinical review

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide, and the commonest cause of death in people living with HIV. Globally, pleural TB remains one of the most frequent causes of pleural exudates, particularly in TB-endemic areas and in the HIV positive population. Most TB pleural effusions are exudates with high adenosine deaminase (ADA), lymphocyte-rich, straw-coloured and free flowing, with a low yield on mycobacterial culture. TB pleurisy can also present as loculated neutrophil-predominant effusions which mimic parapneumonic effusions. Rarely, they can present as frank TB empyema, containing an abundance of mycobacteria. Up to 80% of patients have parenchymal involvement on chest imaging. The diagnosis is simple if M. tuberculosis is detected in sputum, pleural fluid or biopsy specimens, and the recent advent of liquid medium culture techniques has increased the microbiological yield dramatically. Where the prevalence of TB is high the presence of a lymphocyte-predominant exudate with a high ADA has a positive predictive value of 98%. In low prevalence areas, the absence of an elevated ADA and lymphocyte predominance makes TB very unlikely, and pleural biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Pleural biopsy for liquid culture and susceptibility testing must also be considered where the prevalence of drug resistant TB is high. Treatment regimens are identical to those administered for pulmonary TB. Initial pleural drainage may have a role in symptom relief and in hastening the resolution of the effusion. Surgical intervention may be required in loculated effusions and empyemas.

Tuberculosis: mother of thoracic surgery then and now, past and prospectives: a review

Knowledge on ontogenesis of thoracic surgery is essential not only for understanding present concepts and debates on surgery for tuberculosis, but it also contributes to the further developments in operative treatment of lung cancer. Both diseases have been the leading cause of death in their respective ages. History of tuberculosis follows the classic algorithm: diagnostic, casuistic and therapeutical stages. Villemin followed by Virchow, and, finally, Koch revealed the pathoanatomy and the cause of tuberculosis. The therapeutic phase of lung cancer has been reached without identified cause of the disease. Chest surgery, eradication of the macroscopic focus by physical interference with the involved tissue mass, in both diseases preceded medical treatment. Identification of phenotypes of lung cancer-if it is a single disease at all-does not contravene the concept: the tumor mass should been eliminated. However, causation is not an absolute sine qua non of an effective treatment, as the tuberculosis-lung cancer analogy also proves. Surgical approach of both diseases suffered from the same paraoxon: eradication without direct interference with the causative factor. While lung cancer seems to be controlled by an emerging array of new drugs, tuberculosis poses a new challenge, as multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant Koch bacteria are emerging and fragile societies' immunity is weakening. Thoracic surgery has a significant share in the fight against tuberculosis, when drugs and/or society fail. Palliative and radical adjuvant surgery multiplies the chance of cure in those cases, where not much hope is left. The jury is still out in a series of questions, but it is obvious, that surgery is only an option and not a panacea where medicines and their providers fail. Deeper understanding of our past and present failures with tuberculosis and its surgery might contribute to new concepts in coping with lung cancer as well.