Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) in Pregnant Patient With Tuberculosis: A Case Report

TL;DR

A pregnant woman with suspected tuberculosis underwent VATS surgery after initial tests failed to confirm the diagnosis, leading to a successful TB diagnosis and treatment.

Contribution

This case highlights the use of VATS as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for TB in pregnancy when conventional tests are inconclusive.

Findings

TB diagnosis in pregnancy can be challenging due to atypical symptoms and low sensitivity of standard tests.

VATS pleural biopsy confirmed TB in a pregnant patient with empyema and negative initial tests.

VATS was both diagnostic and therapeutic for tuberculous empyema during pregnancy.

Abstract

Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in pregnancy may be challenging. Recommended diagnostic tests often are not sensitive, and additional diagnostic procedures are necessary to confirm disease. Symptoms of TB in pregnancy are often atypical and difficult to diagnose in the early stages of the disease.

Obstetric complications of TB include spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, low birth weight, and increased neonatal mortality. In pregnant patients, empyema is one of the complications of tuberculous pneumonia, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the recommended surgical treatment.

We present the case of a pregnant patient in the 20th week of gestation who was hospitalized due to suspected TB. Serological, microbiological, and molecular tests specific to TB were negative. Radiological tests confirmed pneumonia with pleural effusion. Due to the development of empyema, VATS debridement was indicated. VATS pleural biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of TB.

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