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Improving the safety of thoracentesis

Purpose of review: Thoracentesis is a common bedside procedure associated with iatrogenic complications including pneumothorax. Experienced clinicians using optimal procedural techniques within a supportive system can achieve improvements in safety. However, clinicians have been relatively slow to adopt these changes.

This review examines the available literature regarding procedural safety of thoracentesis with emphasis on best practice models to reduce iatrogenic complications.

Recent findings: Recent studies have identified procedure-specific variables that are independently associated with iatrogenic pneumothorax including inexperienced operators, lack of ultrasound imaging, and large-volume aspiration of fluid. Development of a best practice model including procedural training within a focused procedural group that utilizes ultrasound imaging further improves thoracentesis procedural safety.

Summary: Several procedural modifications have led to improvements in thoracentesis procedural safety in reducing iatrogenic complications. Herein, we review the known risks associated with thoracentesis and identify the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. On the basis of recent studies, we make recommendations and encourage incorporation of ‘best practice’ techniques for thoracentesis procedures.

Cell signaling molecules as drug targets in lung cancer: an overview

Purpose of review: Lung being one of the vital and essential organs in the body, lung cancer is a major cause of mortality in the modern human society. Lung cancer can be broadly subdivided into nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Although NSCLC is sometimes treated with surgery, the advanced and metastatic NSCLC and SCLC usually respond better to chemotherapy and radiation.

The most important targets of these chemotherapeutic agents are various intracellular signaling molecules. The primary focus of this review article is to summarize the description of various cell signaling molecules involved in lung cancer development and their regulation by chemotherapeutic agents.

Recent findings: Extensive research work in recent years has identified several cellular signaling molecules that may be intricately involved in the complexity of lung cancer. Some of these cell signaling molecules are epidermal growth factor receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, matrix metalloproteinases and receptor for advanced glycation end-products.

Summary: The present review will strengthen our current knowledge regarding the efficacy of the above-mentioned cell signaling molecules as potential beneficial drug targets against lung cancer.

Pleural effusions occurring with right heart failure

Purpose of review: Pleural effusions commonly occur in patients with left heart failure. However, there is increasing evidence that patients with pulmonary hypertension and isolated right heart failure frequently have pleural effusions.

Recent findings: Three recent studies have evaluated the incidence of pleural effusions without an alternate explanation in patients with idiopathic/familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (14%), pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue diseases (33%), and portopulmonary hypertension (30%). The majority of patients in all three studies with pleural effusions without an alternate explanation were found to have isolated right heart failure.

In these studies, mean right atrial pressures and death during follow-up were significantly higher in patients with pleural effusions and isolated right heart failure compared to patients with no pleural effusions.

Summary: Pleural effusions without an alternate explanation occur commonly in at least three subtypes of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The majority of patients with pleural effusions also have isolated right heart failure that is thought to be responsible for the development of the effusions. Patients presenting with pulmonary hypertension should be evaluated for pleural effusions, and if present, should receive a work-up for right heart failure.

Anesthesia for bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology: from moderate sedation to jet ventilation

The field of interventional bronchoscopy has seen an evolving need for different types of anesthesia for various procedures.

This review describes recent advances in the field of anesthesiology that have increased the suitability of conscious sedation under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia for prolonged and complex interventional bronchoscopic procedures, especially those performed on severely ill patients. Additionally, the pros and cons of performing bronchoscopic procedures in the bronchoscopy suite versus the operating room are analyzed.

Recent findings: Although conscious sedation is the most commonly used form of anesthesia for simple bronchoscopic procedures, general anesthesia is emerging as a more appropriate technique for newer, more complex interventional bronchoscopic procedures. Large interventional pulmonology departments have state-of-the-art bronchoscopy suites in which both conscious sedation and general anesthesia are used. New advances in the field of anesthesiology such as the laryngeal mask airway, short-acting anesthetics with minimal effect on respiratory function, and mechanical jet ventilators are well suited for interventional bronchoscopic procedures.

Summary: Interventional bronchoscopists are encouraged to examine the pros and cons of different types of anesthesia for various bronchoscopic procedures.

Utilization of B-type natriuretic peptide and NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of pleural effusions due to heart failure

The natriuretic peptides B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP have been incorporated into the existing clinical guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation of heart failure. Recent evidence has provided important information regarding the relative value of each of these peptides to differentiate between pleural effusions caused by heart failure and those attributable to other causes.

Recent findings: In a meta-analysis of 10 studies, which included 1120 patients, pleural fluid levels of NT-proBNP had a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 94%, a positive likelihood ratio of 15.2, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.06 in identifying heart failure-related effusions. Because pleural fluid and serum natriuretic peptide levels are closely correlated and display similar discriminatory properties, blood tests alone are sufficient. More than 85% of heart failure patients whose pleural fluids meet exudative criteria exhibit high pleural NT-proBNP concentrations. The diagnostic performance of pleural fluid BNP has been reported to be inferior to that of NT-proBNP.

Summary: NT-proBNP is an established biomarker of heart failure-associated effusions and the most effective tool for recognizing cardiac effusions that are misclassified as exudates by Light's criteria. If clinicians choose pleural fluid specimens for natriuretic peptide testing, the lower diagnostic accuracy of BNP makes it a poor substitute for NT-proBNP measurements.

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