Introduction: Pleural effusion occurs when extra fluid accumulates in the pleural space of the body. Pleural effusion is a symptom of underlying pathology caused by lung, pleural, and systemic diseases. In approximately 75% of patients, cytobiochemical and microbiological investigation of pleural fluid can provide an etiological diagnosis. Despite thoracentesis diagnostics and its concerned workup, the root cause remains unidentified. Despite primary tests, medical thorocoscopy plays an important role in undiagnosed pleural effusion. This study is planned in order to appraise as to what would be the diagnostic yield on implementing medical thoracoscopy in a tertiary care centre where patients were being treated for pleural effusion of unknown etiology. Methodology: From June 2021 to June 2022, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital in Thandalam, Kanchipuram, initiated a prospective, interventional, and non-randomised study. Our institution conducted a study on pleural effusion cases that were not diagnosed following the initial biochemical and cytological analysis of their respective pleural fluids. Results: This study included 53 patients with pleural effusion. 42 patients(79.25%) had definitive diagnosis and 11 patients(20.75%) had inconclusive histopathological report. It was noted that 30 (56.6%) patients with definitive diagnosis had cancer, 10 (18.9%) had tuberculosis, and 2 (3.8%) had empyema. In our investigation, the diagnostic yield on implementing medical thoracoscopy was 79.25%. The overall sensitivity in our study was 89.36%, with specificity at 100%, positive predictive assessment at 100%, and negative predictive assessment at 54.5%. Conclusion: Medical thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive, well-tolerated, and safe process that aids in the accurate identification of pleural effusion of unknown etiology. It also allows for the provision of therapeutic approaches such as pleurodesis and adhesiolysis. As a consequence, patients having pleural effusion in which the etiology is not known should opt for medical thoracoscopy.
Introduction and Aim: Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and spirometry are commonly used tests to assess the functional status of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) patients. However, many other simpler tests like Sit to Stand Test (STST) are also available. This study is done to assess the utility of STST in comparison to 6MWT to evaluate the functional status of COPD patients in our hospital. Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective and an observational study conducted on 50 COPD patients. Each patient underwent spirometry and subjected to 6MWT and STST. Quadriceps femoris muscle powers are measured for every patient before start of study. During the test, dyspnoea grade, Pulse rate, respiratory rate, saturation and blood pressure were measured. Results: In this study group mean age was 60.38±11.09 years, mean FEV1 55.24% ±16.18% and then 6MWT and STST were correlating with each other. On comparing parameters hemodynamic parameters before and after performing 6MWT and STST for 30 seconds. There is significant correlation between 6MWT and STST using Pearson’s correlation. However, there is a negative correlation between FEV1 and both 6MWT and STST. Conclusion: Sit to stand test is less time consuming, repeatable and easy to perform. STST can also determine the functional status of COPD patient similar to Spirometry and Six-minute walk test. Hence, STST can be an alternative test for Spirometry and 6MWT in COPD patients in a limited resource facility.
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