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The article examines the effectiveness of tissue plasminogen activator or recombinant human deoxyribonuclease, or a combination of the two compared to the saline solution in the treatment of empyema in rabbits. In the treatment of rabbit empyema, the combination of altephase and rhDNAse is more effective in the treatment of rabbit empyema than either agent alone.

The article reports on the efficacy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of pleurodesis in rabbits. The treatment of recurrent pleural effusion or recurrent pneumothorax frequently involves the creation of a pleurodesis. Ultrasound is being used more frequently to assess the presence of pleural fluid or pneumothorax. Pleurodesis usually results from pleural inflammation produced by an injury to the pleura. The assessment of the presence of a pleurodesis is difficult. Advances in technology have greatly improved the imaging capabilities of ultrasound. Using ultrasound, the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura are normally seen as two thin, bright echogenic lines just beneath the chest wall.