In malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) diagnostic success of noninvasive
procedures is generally reported to be unsatisfactory. Both medical and
surgical thoracoscopy seem to be ideal tools causing little discomfort, with very low
risk of complication and short hospital stay. Both procedures therefore represent the
diagnostic gold standard whilst also offering effective palliation at the same time. In this
chapter all these aspects as well as anesthesiological patterns, technical tricks,
conditions for associating pleurodesis, role of partial thoracoscopic pleurectomy are
discussed.
Keywords: Malignant pleural effusion, talc pleurodesis, video-assisted thoracic
surgery.
