Indwelling pleural catheters for non-malignant effusions: a multicentre review of practice.

Journal article

Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are commonly used in the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). There is little data on their use in non-malignant conditions. All IPC insertions for non-malignant cases from five large UK centres were found using prospectively maintained databases. Data were collected on 57 IPC insertions. The commonest indications were hepatic hydrothorax (33%) and inflammatory pleuritis (26%). The mean weekly fluid output was 2.8 L (SD 2.52). 48/57 (84%) patients had no complications. Suspected pleural infection was documented in 2 (3.5%) cases. 33% (19/57) of patients underwent 'spontaneous' pleurodesis at a median time of 71 days. Patients with hepatic disease achieved pleurodesis significantly less often than those with non-hepatic disease (p=0.03). These data support the use of IPCs in select cases of non-malignant disease when maximal medical therapy has failed.

Authors: Bhatnagar, R; Reid, E; Corcoran, J; Bagenal, J; Pope, S

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Journal: Thorax
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 959-961
• Publication date: 2014-10-01
• DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204563
• EISSN: 1468-3296
• ISSN: 0040-6376
• Language: English
• Keywords: Pleural Effusion; Follow-Up Studies; Female; Catheters, Indwelling; Male; Time Factors; Humans; Drainage; Aged; Adult; Treatment Outcome; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over