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. 2014 Dec;6(12):1731-5.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.11.31.

Rapid pleurodesis is an outpatient alternative in patients with malignant pleural effusions: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Serkan Özkul  1 , Akif Turna  1 , Ahmet Demirkaya  1 , Burcu Aksoy  1 , Kamil Kaynak  1
Affiliations

Rapid pleurodesis is an outpatient alternative in patients with malignant pleural effusions: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Serkan Özkul et al. J Thorac Dis. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Chemical pleurodesis can be palliative for recurrent, symptomatic pleural effusions in patients who are not candidate for a thoracic surgical procedure. We hypothesized that effective pleurodesis could be accomplished with a rapid method of pleurodesis as effective as the standard method.

Methods: A prospective randomized 'non-inferiority' trial was conducted in 96 patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) who are not potentially curable and/or not amenable to any other surgical intervention. They were randomly allocated to group 1 (rapid pleurodesis) and to group 2 (standard protocol). In group 1, following complete fluid evacuation, talc slurry was instilled into the pleural space. This was accomplished within 2 h of thoracic catheter insertion, unless the drained fluid was more than 1,500 mL. After clamping the tube for 30 min, the pleural space was drained for 1 h, after which the thoracic catheter was removed. In group 2, talc-slurry was administered when the daily drainage was lower than 300 mL/day.

Results: No-complication developed due to talc-slurry in two groups. Complete or partial response was achieved in 35 (87.5%) and 33 (84.6%) patients in group 1 and group 2 respectively (P=0.670). The mean drainage time was 40.7 and 165.2 h in group 1 and group 2 respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Rapid pleurodesis with talc slurry is safe and effective and it can be performed in an outpatient basis.

Keywords: Pleurodesis; malignant pleural effusion (MPE); slurry; talc.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort 2010 diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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