47 Feasiblity of Day Case Thoracoscopy with Indwelling Catheter Insertion

Local anaesthetic thoracoscopy is a well established diagnostic and therapeutic tool for undiagnosed pleural effusions, with a diagnostic sensitivity of above 95%. Traditionally, patients are admitted afterwards, on average for 3 days. Day case thoracoscopy with concurrent indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) insertion and same day discharge has been adopted in some centres. No randomised trials have been published. Service evaluations thus help to determine safety.