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

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.