DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC THORACOSCOPY - WITH REGARD TO 100 CASES

Results and complications of 100 consecutive thoracoscopies performed with local anesthesia, in our department of pneumology are reviewed. T he group is constituted by 60 men and 40 women with an average age of 56.1 +/- 16.7 years (13-81). Age difference between tumoral (n=58) and tuberculous patients (n=13) was statistically significant (59.6 +/- 1 2.8 vs 39.3 +/- 18.7; p<0.001). The most frequent symptom on presentat ion was dyspnea, an significant association was detected between fever and tuberculosis (p<0.001). Final diagnosis were: tumor (n=58), non-s pecific inflammation (n=16), tuberculosis (n=13), pneumothorax (n=11) and pneumonia (n=2). In 14 patients some complication of the procedure appeared, all of these had little clinical significance and were reso lved with minimal nursing care. To diagnose tumor, macroscopic aspect showed a sensitivity of 96.1%, specificity of 86% and 92% assurance.