Sonographic Indicators for Treatment Choice and Follow-Up in Patients with Pleural Effusion

Table 4

US characteristics of surgically treated patients (open thoracotomy vs VATS).

Treatment option		Diaphragm function
		Fixed	Impaired movement	Normal movement	Total
Open thoracotomy		15 (37.5%)	24 (60%)	1 (2.5%)	40 (100%)
VATS		0 (0.0%)	4 (80%)	1 (20%)	5 (100%)
Total		15	28	2	45
	Echo structure
Treatment option	Complex septate	Complex nonseptate	Echogenic	Anechoic	Total
Open thoracotomy	17 (42.5%)	13 (32.5)	6 (15%)	4 (10%)	40 (100%)
VATS	1 (20%)	1 (20%)	0 (0%)	3 (60%)	5 (100%)
	18	14	6	7	45
	Wall thickness
Treatment option	N		Mean		Standard error mean
Open thoracotomy	40		7.25 ± 1.4		0.220
VATS	5		5.4 ± 0.55		0.245