| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 4 | Page : 215-219 |
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Role of therapeutic thoracentesis in tuberculous pleural effusion
Sourin Bhuniya1, Datta C Arunabha2, Choudhury Sabyasachi3, Saha Indranil4, Roy T Sumit5, Saha Mita5
1 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, West Midnapore, India
2 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
3 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India
4 Department of Community Medicine, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India
5 Department of Ophthalmology, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
Correspondence Address:
Sourin Bhuniya
66CC/5, Anupama Housing Complex, Phase-2, VIP Road, Kolkata 70005
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1817-1737.102176
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Context: Prevalence of tuberculous pleural effusion is very high in the Asian subcontinent but very few studies have come up from this part of the world about the course of recovery of pulmonary functions after institution of anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) and thoracentesis.
Aims: To study initial lung function impairment, changes over time after institution of ATT and thoracentesis and residual abnormalities left at the end of six months of treatment.
Settings and Design: Randomized open level interventional study over two years in 52 patients at a tertiary level teaching hospital.
Methods: The study population was divided into two equal groups, A (therapeutic thoracentesis) and B (diagnostic thoracentesis). Spirometry, chest radiograph and ultrasonography of thorax were done initially and at each follow-up visit up to six months. Statistical analysis was done (P value < 0.05 considered significant).
Results: Both groups were comparable initially. After six months none in group A and five patients in group B had minimal pleural effusion. During follow up, mean percentage predicted of FEV1 and FVC increased more in A than in B and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Pleural thickening, initially absent in both groups, was found to be more in B as compared to A at subsequent follow-up visits and this was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Thoracentesis should be considered in addition to anti-TB treatment, especially in large effusions, in order to relieve dyspnea, avoid possibility of residual pleural thickening and risk of developing restrictive functional impairment. |
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