The British Thoracic Society (BTS) has published an update of its 2003 guidelines on pleural disease. The guideline addresses the investigation and medical management of pleural disease in adults as follows:

1. Investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults.
2. Management of spontaneous pneumothorax.
3. Management of a malignant pleural effusion.
4. Management of pleural infection in adults.
5. Local anaesthetic thoracoscopy.
6. Chest drain insertion and thoracic ultrasound.

An accompanying editorial discusses the updated guidelines