Pleural manometry: techniques, applications, and pitfalls

Pleural manometry (PM) is a novel tool that allows direct measurement of the pressure in the pleural space in the presence of either a pleural effusion or a pneumothorax. Originally it was used to guide therapy for tuberculosis (TB) before the development of anti-TB medications. It was relegated to highly specialized centers for thoracoscopies until Light used it to investigate pleural effusions in the 1980s. However, there remains lack of robust data to support the routine use of PM. Recently additional published studies have generated renewed interest supporting the use of PM in specialized cases of complex pleural disorders. In this paper we summarize the current different techniques, applications, and pitfalls for the use of PM.