Successful Resolution of Loculated Pleural Effusion through Medical Thoracoscopy and Bronchoscopy

Dr Aditya S Bhushan, Dr B L Shashi Bhushan, Dr Anupama R

Abstract: A 30 year old male had come with a short history of 3 days of left sided chest pain, breathing difficulty and fever. Initial investigations revealed a loculated pleural effusion with inconclusive pleural fluid analysis. Medical thoracoscopy was done which showed adhesions between the visceral and parietal pleura. Pleural biopsy favoured inflammation. Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was done for isolation of causative organism, that is, methicillin resistant staphylococcus. Patient was started on sensitive antibiotics, and patient showed clinicoradiological improvement and was hence discharged.

Keywords: Loculated pleural effusion, Medical thoracoscopy, Flexible bronchoscopy, pleural biopsy, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus