Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Background: Dry medical thoracoscopy (MT) allows access into the pleural cavity in the absence of effusion; but its role, safety, and techniques remain poorly defined. This scoping review summarises current evidence on indications, procedural approaches, diagnostic yield, and safety of dry MT; and highlights gaps to guide future research. Methods: We conducted a scoping review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for original studies reporting on dry MT involving pneumothorax induction. Study selection and data extraction followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Results: Thirteen studies involving 357 patients were included. 146 cases (40.9%) were completely ‘dry’ (complete absence of pleural fluid). Techniques for pneumothorax induction varied, including blunt dissection, Veress needle, Boutin needle, bladeless trocar, Saugman cannula and guidewire-assisted catheter insertion. Procedural success ranged from 80.6% to 100%, though definitions were inconsistently reported. Thoracic ultrasound was frequently used for site selection and needle guidance, but standardised criteria were lacking. Malignancy and chronic pleurisy were common histological findings. Complications occurred in 5.9% of cases, most commonly chest pain. No studies reported long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Dry MT appears technically feasible and generally safe. Heterogeneity in techniques, outcome definitions, and limited follow-up constrain further interpretation. Future studies should aim to standardise procedural definitions, evaluate predictors of success, and compare pneumothorax induction methods. Prospective research with long-term outcomes is needed to definite the role of dry MT more clearly.
Keywords
medical thoracoscopy, pleural diseases, pleuroscopy, pneumothorax
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
E-ISSN
20056184
ISSN
17383536
Volume
89
Issue
2
Publication Title
Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases
Publisher
The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
99331
Funding Information
Nai-Chien Huan has received a research scholarship from the Institute of Respiratory Health and Edith Cowan University. Y. C. Gary Lee is funded by the National Health & Medical Research Council (Leadership Fellow) of Australia and the Future Health Research Fund (Centre for Innovative Pleural Research) of Western Australia.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
First Page
287
Last Page
296
Recommended Citation
Huan, N., Nyanti, L. E., Toh, E. S. Y., Tung, K. M., Woo, F. B., Shanmugam, V., Vignesh, S., & Lee, Y. C. G. (2026). Dry medical thoracoscopy with artificial pneumothorax induction: A scoping review. Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, 89(2), 287–296. https://doi.org/10.4046/TRD.2025.0149