Diseases of the pleura such as effusion, thickening, or pneumothorax are frequently encountered in the practice of medicine. Practical Thoracoscopy presents an encyclopedic approach to the use of thoracoscopy in the diag nosis and treatment of patients with pleural disease. After an initial chapter on the history of thoracoscopy, the next three chapters of the book are devoted to the general technique of performing thoracoscopy, a topic on which the team of Dr. Boutin and his colleagues write with ample experience. In these chapters they provide detailed de scriptions of how to perform the procedure and discuss the pros and the cons of the different approaches and the different equipment available. The following chapter discusses the complications of the procedure. The next chapter discusses the role of thoracoscopy in diagnosing pleu ral effusions. My own opinion here is in general that, as long as well trained personnel are available, thoracoscopy is preferable to open pleural biopsy, because it is associated with less morbidity and mortality and can be done if necessary under local anesthesia. The following chapter is directed at using to thoracoscopy to facilitate pleurodesis for chronic pleural effusions. With Boutin's method, talc pou drage is performed during thoracoscopy, and certainly, if a thoracoscopy is used to establish the diagnosis of a malignant pleural effusion, it is appro priate to attempt to induce a pleurodesis with talc at the time of the diag nostic procedure.

There is an increasing need for medical thoracoscopy performed by pulmonologists, which may be video assisted and has the advantage of being very cost-effective. This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to thoracoscopy for pulmonologists that documents the considerable progress in endoscopic telescopes and instrumentation. Clear practical guidance is provided on technique, and diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional applications of thoracoscopy are all carefully examined with the aid of high-quality illustrations. Although medical thoracoscopy is much less invasive than thoracotomy, complications can occur in a small number of cases; these are discussed and advice on prevention is provided. The concluding section examines the future of the field, covering developments such as ‘mini’ thoracoscopy, autofluorescence thoracoscopy, and flexi-rigid thoracoscopy.

This book provides an unbiased and evidence-based guide to the potential role of interventional pulmonology as an alternative to thoracic surgery. Interventional pulmonology is a new and quickly growing sub-specialty in pulmonary medicine and increasingly more pulmonologists are turning to interventional therapies over the more costly and invasive surgical options. The text thoroughly presents detailed coverage of and diagnostic methods for many diseases and conditions that pulmonologists encounter daily, including: diffuse lung infiltrates, solitary lung nodule, undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hemoptysis, and airway foreign body. Experts then detail treatment options, from both a surgical and interventional perspective, with guidance on: when each procedure is most appropriate, what can be performed by a pulmonologist (with guidelines on how those procedures are done) versus what needs to be referred to a thoracic surgeon or an intervention pulmonologist, and the benefits and disadvantages involved with each option. This is an ideal guide for pulmonologists, trainees, and students to better understand the full scope of possible treatment options for their patients and to make the best informed decision about patient care.

Principles and Practice of Interventional Pulmonology provides a comprehensive text covering all aspects of Interventional Pulmonology. Providing both pathophysiologic background as well as illustrated and clear instruction on how procedures ought to be performed, this text will be of great value to interventional pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, surgical oncologists, and interventional radiologists.

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) Handbook of Respiratory Medicine, now in its third edition, is a concise, compact and easy-to-read guide to each of the key areas in respiratory medicine. Its 20 sections, written by clinicians and researchers at the forefront of the field, explain the structure and function of the respiratory system, its disorders and how to treat them. The Handbook is a must-have for anyone who intends to remain up to date in the field, and to have within arm's reach a reference that covers everything from the basics to the latest developments in respiratory medicine.

Written by some of the world's leading practitioners - and pioneers - in the field, Thoracic Endoscopy is the first up-to-the-minute, expert reference for clinicians with a solid foundation in diagnostic bronchoscopy and chest medicine needing to extend their clinical expertise in response to two decades of rapid development. Thoracic Endoscopy covers four key areas of practice: advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy the latest techniques for interventional bronchoscopy — including the traditional rigid bronchoscopy techniques, ablative instruments and stents — and a discussion of endobronchial lung reduction and gene therapy a window to the pleura, covering the field of pleuroscopy and the advances in diagnosis and treatment clinical problems and methodologies, and strategies for solving them using interventional techniques Thoracic Endoscopy presents the only coherent guide to the full range of techniques and practice patterns, and is the essential reference for both experienced interventional pulmonologists and students beginning to practice in this rapidly-developing field.

Medical Management of the Thoracic Surgery Patient, by Michael I. Lewis, MD and Robert J. McKenna, Jr., MD, is a comprehensive pulmonary and thoracic reference that takes a practical approach to the diagnosis, workup and care of the thoracic surgery patient. It is geared towards pulmonary and critical care physicians and their trainees as well as all other specialties with whom thoracic surgeons consult and interact. It outlines the principles for understanding the underlying disease entities as well as the clinical implications and complications of surgery, and interprets key surgical concepts such as correlative and functional anatomy for non-surgeons. Contributions from today’s authorities...“at-a-glance detailed key information, as well as summary bullets...and a multidisciplinary perspective, combine to offer essential guidance for confident patient management. As an Expert Consult title it includes convenient online access to the complete contents of the book—fully searchable—along with video clips of thoracic procedures, patient information sheets, all of the images downloadable for your personal use, and references linked to Medline at www.expertconsult.com. Includes access to a companion website at expertconsult.com where you can search the complete contents of the book, watch video clips of thoracic procedures, print out patient information sheets, download all of the images, and review references linked to Medline...providing you with a powerful resource for convenient consultation anytime, anywhere. Features ‘real world’ illustrative cases presented in a brief, bulleted format that facilitates easy access to and retention of the material. Examines every aspect of diagnosis and management for pre-, peri-, and postoperative care for an all-encompassing reference to respond to unique surgical problems. Provides coverage of individual topics supplemented by a brief case-based presentation, where appropriate, that lend a real-life perspective to the material. Contains all of the “need-to-know facts for a complete, thorough consultation in diagnosis and treatment of patients who undergo thoracic surgery. Offers practical information that utilizes the experience of today’s leaders while based on evidence in the literature for coverage you can trust. Examines current clinical controversies, providing you with an arena for discussion of sensitive topics and guidance on preferred approaches when relevant. Presents pearls, pitfalls, key points, and other learning elements in each chapter, to help you locate summaries of essential information “at-a-glance. Features chapters written by specialists of various disciplines, to equip you with a balanced perspective on each condition.