Management of Recurrent Malignant Pleural Effusion with Chemical Pleurodesis

Purpose Malignant pleural effusion is a common complication of primary and metastatic pleural malignancies. It is usually managed by drainage and pleurodesis, but there is no consensus as to the best method of pleurodesis. We compared the effectiveness, side effects, and cost of different chemical pleurodesis agents used in patients with malignant pleural effusion.Methods Between January 1990 and December 2001, 108 patients with malignant pleural effusion underwent chemical pleurodesis in our department. Thoracoscopy was performed in 64 patients (59%), a minithoracotomy in 18 (17%), tube thoracostomy in 11 (10%), and a small-bore catheter was inserted in 15 (14%). Talc was used in 68 (63%) patients, tetracycline in 26 (24%), and bleomycin in 14 (13%). Talc was instilled by insufflation during surgery after drainage, whereas tetracycline and bleomycin were instilled via tube or catheter for pleural analgesia.Results Talc resulted in significantly earlier tube and catheter removal, after an average 4.1 days versus 5.1 days after tetracyline, and 6.3 days after bleomycin (P = 0.026, P = 0.001, respectively). A significantly lower reaccumulation ratio in 90 days was achieved by the talc group, with nine (13.2%) patients, representing an 86.8% success rate, than in the tetracyline and bleomycin groups, with seven (26.7%) and five (35.7%) patients, respectively, representing 73.8% and 64.3% success rates (P = 0.04).Conclusions Talc resulted in the earliest expansion, minimal drainage, and the earliest tube and catheter removal.     

Life expectancy of patients with malignant pleural effusion treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis

The aim of the current study was to analyse postoperative complications and survival after video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion. All patients with morphologically proven malignant pleural effusion who underwent VATS talc pleurodesis from November 1995 to November 2002 were included in retrospective analysis. VATS was performed in general anaesthesia and 5 g of asbestos-free talc was insufflated into the pleural cavity. Postoperative pleural drainage was used until fluid output was less than 100 ml/24 h. Ninety-eight patients (28 male and 70 female) with mean age 59.6 (range 18-82) years were included. Thirteen patients had a bilateral pleural effusion. The most common primary cancer sites were lung (30 cases), breast (25) and ovarium (11). Average duration of the operation was 46 (range 10-120) min. Median duration of postoperative drainage was 3 (range 1-20) days and postoperative hospitalisation 7 (range 3-70) days. Twenty-eight patients had postoperative complications (fever in 17 cases). In seven cases pleurodesis was ineffective. Median survival was 8.4 months. Six-, 12- and 24-month survival was 58% (95% CI [0.47-0.67]), 39% [0.29-0.49] and 20% [0.12-0.29], respectively. Survival data after VATS talc pleurodesis advocate use of this invasive treatment method despite the advanced stage of cancer.     

Ambulatory Intercostal Drainage for the Management of Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Single Center Experience

Background

Malignant pleural effusions are common and can be difficult to manage. We have reviewed our use of ambulatory drains (Pleurex drains) in this regard with particular reference to hospital stay, duration of drainage, and incidence of complications.

Materials and Methods

Of 125 patients with malignant pleural effusion with trapped lung or failed previous pleurodesis who underwent insertion of ambulatory pleural drain, 41 patients were under local anesthesia and 84 patients were under general anesthesia. Mean age was 66.5 years with male:female = 80:45. Data were collected retrospectively from the clinical notes, and the family doctors’ clinics were contacted to enquire about the patients’ survival.

Results

When data collection concluded, 48 patients (38.4%) had died, giving mean survival following drain insertion of 84.1 days. There were no in-hospital deaths related to the procedure. One procedure was converted to a mini-thoracotomy to control bleeding from a lung tear. Mean duration of catheter placement was 87.01 days (5–434). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was used in 77 patients (61.6%), and Seldinger’s technique was used in 48 patients (38.4%). Mesothelioma was the most common malignant cause. Minor complications were encountered in 15 patients (12%), and they were managed as outpatients.

Conclusion

The use of ambulatory pleural catheters for managing malignant pleural effusion is a safe and effective strategy. It has only minor complications that are related to prolonged drainage. We feel that this strategy should be considered the first choice option for these patients.     

Single access videothoracoscopic biopsy and talc pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusion

Aim-Background

Recurrent pleural effusion is frequently observed in clinical experience and malignancy is one of the most frequent causes. Although it is generally necessary to prevent the recurrence of effusion in patients with disseminated neoplastic disease, in others, a diagnosis is required. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of biopsy and pleurodesis by a single access videothoracoscopic approach.

Methods

We report a consecutive series of 20 patients (12 men, 8 women, aged 39 to 83 years) who underwent single access videothoracoscopy with pleural biopsy and talc pleurodesis for recurrent pleural effusion. In all cases, indication for the procedure was a recurrent pleural effusion, suspicious for malignancy. Videothoracoscopy was performed under general anaesthesia. For pleurodesis, an average of 8g of sterile talc powder was used. A six-month follow-up was completed for all patients, and efficacy was judged by clinical examination and chest X-ray.

Results

Diagnosis was obtained in all cases. In five cases, the diagnosis was a pleural involvement by breast cancer metastasis, and in four cases, a primary lung cancer was detected. Eight were mesotheliomas and one a parapneumonic collection. In two cases, an unknown-malignancy recurrent pleural effusion was observed. No deaths, talc-induced ARDS or malignant invasion of the scar occurred, but only a postoperative empyema and two subcutaneous emphysemas treated successfully without further operation.

Conclusions

Single access videothoracoscopic pleural biopsy and talc pleurodesis is a safe and effective method for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusions.     

Novel approach for talc pleurodesis by dedicated catheter through flexi-rigid thoracoscope under local anesthesia

For pleurodesis, talc administered by poudrage is usually insufflated blindly from a single port of entry using the standard method with a small-diameter rigid thoracoscope. In order to visually perform talc poudrage from a single port, we introduced a catheter technique through a flexi-rigid thoracoscope. Patients with uncontrolled and symptomatic pleural effusion requiring pleurodesis underwent flexi-rigid thoracoscopy under local anesthesia for talc poudrage. A dedicated catheter with 2.1-mm inner diameter was connected to a talc atomizer and inserted through the working channel of the flexi-rigid thoracoscope to insufflate talc into the pleural cavity under visualization. Nine patients were included in this study. Three patients were >75 years old, and two were Karnofsky performance status 50. Three patients received propofol for sedation and six were not sedated. Mean operative time was 30.8 min for all patients, and 21.3 min for cases without sedation. All procedures were performed easily under clear visualization with no major complications or catheter obstructions. This novel approach for talc pleurodesis using a catheter was well-tolerated and seems feasible for patients with uncontrolled pleural effusion. We consider this technique useful even for difficult cases, such as elderly patients or those with relatively low performance status.     

Thoracoscopic Talc Pleurodesis for the Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Background: During the Belgian Surgical Week in May 2004 some controversy existed on the optimal treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Doubts raised about the safety of talc in performing pleurodesis because of reported complications.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of thoracoscopic pleurodesis with talc was performed. Patients operated for spontaneous pneumothorax were analysed focusing on complications and freedom of recurrence. A literature search was performed on complications from the use of talc to treat pleural disease. Results: From September 1999 till August 2004 forty-one patients had a thoracoscopic pleurodesis with talc. In 21 patients this was performed for recurrent malignant pleural effusion and in 20 for spontaneous pneumothorax. In 5 of these 20 patients we faced a secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. In seven patients an apical pulmonary wedge resection of bullae was performed. No intra-operative or serious postoperative complications were seen in these patients. All drains were removed after 4 to 6 days. No episodes of respiratory insufficiency occurred. No recurrence was encountered during a mean follow-up of 22.7 months.

Conclusion: Thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax was effective and safe in our experience. In the literature no convincing evidence against the use of talc to treat pleural disease was found. Although some cases of ARDS are attributed to the pleural administration of talc, the incidence of complications after talc poudrage appears to be low.     

Tru-Cut Needle Pleural Biopsy and Cytology as the Initial Procedure in the Evaluation of Pleural Effusion

Introduction and objectivesThe evaluation of pleural effusion (PE) includes various techniques, including pleural biopsy (PB). Our aim was to study the diagnostic yield of Tru-Cut needle PB (TCPB) and to define clinical/radiological situations in which TCPB might be indicated as an initial procedure.MethodologyRetrospective study of TCPB in a hospital center (2010–2012). Cases of pleural lesions without effusion were excluded. Clinical and radiological variables, diagnostic yield, TCPB complications and factors associated with the diagnostic yield of the combination of TCPB and thoracocentesis as initial procedure were analyzed.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-seven (127) TCPB were reviewed: 29.1% were cases of malignant PE and in 18.9% the cause of the PE could not be determined. The diagnostic yield of TCPB for tuberculosis was 76.5% (13/17) and 54% (20/37) for malignant PE. Complications occurred in 4.7% of the cases. In 72 patients with a final definitive diagnosis, TCPB was performed at the same time as the initial thoracocentesis. Diagnostic yield for the combination of TCPB/cytology as an initial technique was 43% (31/72) compared to 12.5% (9/72) for cytology only (P=.01). The only predictive variable for the indication of TCBP as an initial technique was a PE volume >2/3 (P=.04).ConclusionsTCPB is safe and provides an acceptable diagnostic yield, particularly when combined with simultaneous cytology in the evaluation of PE of various aetiologies. Radiological criteria may help guide the selection of patients who could benefit from this technique as an initial procedure combined with thoracocentesis.     

Thoracoscopic collagen pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE: Pleurodesis is of a potential benefit in pleural carcinomatosis and symptomatic malignant effusions, but the best way of achieving this is still uncertain. The aim of this prospective study was to analyse the results of pleurodesis after intra-pleural thoracoscopic administration of collagen powder. METHODS: 45 patients (19 men and 26 women; median age of 64 years, range from 36 to 73 years) with malignant pleural effusions underwent thoracoscopic collagen pleurodesis. The procedure involved thoracoscopic drainage of pleural effusion and intra-pleural insufflation of 1 g of bovine dermal collagen powder under general anaesthesia. Assessment of the immediate side effects and pH estimation of drained pleural fluid took place whilst inpatient. The patients were subsequently followed up for 1 year at 3-monthly intervals including outpatient clinical review and chest radiography. Prognostic value of pleural fluid pH in relation to the outcome of pleurodesis and patients' survival was statistically analysed. RESULTS: The procedure was well tolerated and there were no serious complications or deaths. Thoracoscopic collagen pleurodesis resulted in immediate resolution of malignant pleural effusion and all patients remained free of re-accumulated fluid for at least 1 month. Only 5 (11%) patients later developed recurrent effusion and required its repeat drainage at some point during the follow-up period. In the vast majority (89%) patients, thoracoscopic collagen pleurodesis proved successful in complete and permanent resolution of pleural fluid collection. Acid medium (pH < 7.3) of plural fluid was associated with poor survival (P < 0.05), but did not influence the clinical and radiological outcome of collagen pleurodesis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic collagen pleurodesis is a simple and effective method of treatment of malignant pleural effusions.     

Long-term follow-up of video-assisted talc pleurodesis in malignant recurrent pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent pleural effusion is a common condition and often presents a challenge for treatment. The aim of this report is to evaluate the long-term follow-up of thoracoscopic management of malignant recurrent pleural effusions. METHODS: From July 1st, 1992 to February 28th, 2001, out of 2311 VATS procedures performed at our Institution, 690 patients (29.85%) underwent videothoracoscopy (VATS) for recurrent pleural effusion. Of these 611 (88.55%) were treated for a malignant pleural effusion. There were 374 male and 237 female, with a mean age of 61.2 years. In all patients VATS was performed under general anaesthesia. The pleural effusion was carefully aspirated; fibrinous adhesions were taken down while dense fibrous adhesions were selectively divided; some limited decortications were also performed. Multiple pleural biopsies were always performed. Pleurodesis was performed with 5 g of sterile purified talc insufflated through a talc atomizer. One chest tube was left in situ for 3-5 days. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 0.81% (five cases). Postoperative complications occurred in 19 cases (3.1%). Specific histologic diagnosis was obtained in all patients. Follow-up was available for 602 patients (98.5%). After a median follow-up of 64 months (range 5-105 months), talc pleurodesis was successful in controlling recurrence of effusion in 92.7% (558 out of 602) of patients. The success rate did not show any statistically significant difference between patients who underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy and patients who did not. In two patients with failure of talc pleurodesis a redo-VATS was performed. CONCLUSIONS: VATS represents the method of choice for both diagnosis and treatment of malignant recurrent pleural effusions. Talc poudrage is safe and effective in obtaining pleurodesis.     

Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery of pleural effusions for diagnosis and treatment

Background

Several procedures such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) are used to make a definite diagnosis in recurrent pleural effusions so that appropriate treatment can be arranged. Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery (SITS) is the most appropriate procedure that can be used for this purpose. The contribution of SITS to diagnosis and treatment is evaluated in this study that we conducted using a single thoracoport in patients with pleural effusion.

Methods

Nineteen consecutive patients with pleural effusion that was recurrent or refractory to medical treatment were included in the study to be diagnosed and treated with SITS. Thoracentesis was performed and pleural fluid samples obtained in all patients before the procedure. Pleural effusion drainage was performed from the 11-mm single skin incision by using a 10.5-mm single thoracoport, and biopsy or talc pleurodesis was performed in the same session when needed.

Results

The median age of the patients was 56.68 ± 3.05 years and there were 11 males and 8 females. The total amount of fluid drained by SITS was 1,436 ± 227 mL and the surgery lasted 81.05 ± 5.36 min. In addition, partial decortication and/or deloculation were performed in six patients and talc pleurodesis in nine patients. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with benign and four patients with malignant pleural effusion by thoracentesis, while nine patients were diagnosed with benign and ten patients with malignant pleural effusion by SITS. We therefore had six cases diagnosed as benign with thoracentesis who were diagnosed with malignant disease after SITS.

Conclusions

SITS presents both diagnosis and treatment options together for pleural effusions. We believe SITS should be preferred to conventional three-port VATS to minimize the spread of infection and tumor cells to the chest wall in infectious and malignant diseases.     

胸膜厚度联合外周血结核感染T细胞斑点试验鉴别诊断结核性与恶性胸腔积液

目的 评价胸膜厚度联合外周血结核感染T细胞斑点试验（T-SPOT.TB）鉴别结核性与恶性胸腔积液的价值。方法 纳入284例结核性胸膜炎患者（结核组）及213例恶性胸腔积液患者（恶性组）。采用超声测量胸膜厚度,并进行外周血T-SPOT.TB,比较组间结果差异;利用多因素logistic回归分析观察二者是否为恶性胸腔积液的独立危险因素。绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线,计算曲线下面积（AUC）,评价胸膜厚度、外周血T-SPOT.TB及二者联合鉴别结核性与恶性胸腔积液的效能,并以DeLong检验比较其效能差异。结果 2组间胸膜厚度及外周血T-SPOT.TB结果差异均存在统计学意义（P均<0.05）,且此二项均为判断胸腔积液性质的独立危险因素,其OR分别为0.67[95%CI（0.60,0.75）,P<0.05]及6.79[95%CI（4.44,10.39）,P<0.05]。以胸膜厚度鉴别结核性与恶性胸腔积液的AUC为0.71,截断值取0.55 mm时,其诊断的敏感度为90.84%,特异度为45.08%;以外周血T-SPOT.TB鉴别诊断的AUC为0.72,敏感度为72.89%,特异度为70.89%;二者联合鉴别诊断的AUC为0.81,高于单一指标（P均<0.01）,敏感度为65.49%,特异度为83.10%。结论 胸膜厚度和外周血T-SPOT.TB可用于鉴别结核性与恶性胸腔积液,且二者联合可提高鉴别特异度。     

Investigation into role of medical pleuroscopy in the diagnosis and management of patients with pleural diseases

Background

Pleuroscopy is a minimal invasive technique which allows direct visualization of the pleura, removal of the pleural fluid and biopsy of the pleura through single skin incision. Pleuroscopy provides an accurate diagnosis in effusions of unknown aetiology. The present study aimed to investigate the safety and utility of medical pleuroscopy in diagnosis and management of patients with pleural effusion.

Methods

A retrospective observational study of 38 patients who undervent medical pleuroscopy procedure from July 2008 to April 2009 at Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad, India.

Results

In our study majority of the patients had pleural nodules while empyema, pleural thickening, patchy pleuritis and apical blebs were the findings in the rest. Normal pleuroscopy findings were observed in 2 patients. Therapeutic pleuroscopy (Adhesionolysis and/or pleurodesis) was performed in 16 patients. Pleurodesis was performed in 5 patients and adhesionolysis was performed in 9 patients, while in 2 patients adhesionolysis and pleurodesis was performed. Sclerosing agents used for pleuodesis were betadine solution(6 cases) and oxytetracycline( 1 case). Success rate of betadine pleurodesis was 83.3?%(5 of 6 cases). Pleuroscopy alongwith biopsy demonstrated diagnostic yield, sensitivity and specificity of 100?%. Minor complications related to the pleuroscopy procedure were bleeding, surgical emphysema and infection with overall incidence rate of <1?%. Procedure related mortality was zero.

Conclusions

Our data suggests that pleuroscopy is a safe, well-tolerated procedure with minimal risk allowing accurate diagnosis and therapeutic interventions in patients with indeterminate and malignant recurrent pleural effusion.     

Identification of Pleural Response Patterns: A Cluster Analysis

BackgroundPleural effusion occurs as a response of the pleura to aggressions. The pleura reacts differently according to the type of injury. However, pleural reactions have not yet been characterized. The objective of this study was to identify homogeneous clusters of patients based on the analytical characteristics of their pleural fluid and identify pleural response patterns.MethodsA prospective study was conducted of consecutive patients seen in our unit for pleural effusion. Principal component and cluster analyses were carried out to identify pleural response patterns based on a combination of pleural fluid biomarkers.ResultsA total of 1613 patients were grouped into six clusters, namely: cluster 1 (10.5% of the cohort, primarily composed of patients with malignant pleural effusions); cluster 2 (17.4%, pleural effusions with inflammatory biomarkers); cluster 3 (16.1%, primarily composed of patients with infectious pleural effusions); cluster 4 (2.5%, a subcluster of cluster 3, superinfectious effusions); cluster 5 (23.4%, paucicellular pleural effusions); and cluster 6 (30.1%, miscellaneous). Significant differences were observed across clusters in terms of the analytical characteristics of PF (p < 0.001 for all), age (p < 0.001), and gender (p = 0.016). A direct relationship was found between the type of cluster and the etiology of pleural effusion.ConclusionPleural response is heterogeneous. The pleura may respond differently to the same etiology or similarly to different etiologies, which hinders diagnosis of pleural effusion.     

电视胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊治中的价值

目的评价电视胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊治中的价值。方法2002年3月～2005年3月对常规检查无法明确病因的45例胸腔积液在电视胸腔镜下完成活检或纤维板剥脱、胸膜固定。结果45例全部确诊，其中恶性3例，结核性胸腔积液38例，非特异性胸腔积液3例，特发性胸腔积液1例。45例随访2～36个月，平均18个月，无胸腔积液复发。结论电视胸腔镜手术诊治胸腔积液具有诊断率高、安全、准确、损伤小的特点。     

Talc pleurodesis in recurrent pleural effusions

Background and aims: The treatment of recurrent malignant pleural effusions is known to be difficult and varies from observation in asymptomatic patients to pleurectomy with varying results. This prospective study presents the efficacy and the limits of iodized talc pleurodesis in patients with malignant and non-malignant recurrent pleural effusions. Methods: In a prospective trial talc pleurodesis was performed in 50 patients with recurrent pleural effusions (malignant effusions: n = 36, non-malignant effusions: n = 14). After insertion of a chest tube and complete re-expansion of the lung, 5 mg of talc and 3 mg of thymol iodine were installed with 0.5 ml of 1% xylocaine/kg body weight and 30 ml 0.9% saline solution. The chest tube was removed after an average time of 4 days and chest radiographs were performed 1 month after instillation to evaluate the efficacy of pleurodesis. Results: Successful therapy was achieved in 31 of 33 patients (94%) with malignant effusions within a follow-up period of 7 months. Three patients died within 1 month after therapy due to progressive malignant disease. The treatment was successful in all cases of non-malignant effusions and complications did not occur in either group. Conclusions: These results indicate that pleurodesis with iodized talcum slurry is a simple and inexpensive method with high efficacy in controlling malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions. Received: 23 October 1997     

经肋间电视纵隔镜手术701例临床分析

目的探讨经肋间电视纵隔镜手术在纵隔肿物、恶性胸腔积液和手汗症诊治中的应用。方法回顾性分析2001年11月至2007年6月我院收治的701例经肋间电视纵隔镜手术患者的临床资料。其中术前未获得明确病理诊断的纵隔肿物患者48例和恶性胸腔积液患者46例,经肋间电视纵隔镜手术行纵隔肿物或胸膜活检,39例行滑石粉胸膜固定术;手汗症患者607例,行双侧胸交感神经链切断术。结果本组无手术死亡和严重并发症。48例纵隔肿物、46例临床诊断恶性胸腔积液患者,经肋间电视纵隔镜手术全部获得明确病理诊断。39例恶性胸腔积液患者行滑石粉胸膜固定术,成功率100％。607例手汗症患者术后手汗症状均完全消失,手掌温度上升1．5～3．0℃,温暖干燥,随访尚无患者复发。结论经肋间单一切口电视纵隔镜手术对于纵隔肿物、恶性胸腔积液和手汗症是一种简便有效的诊治手段。     

Treatment of malignant pleural effusion by pleurodesis with talc

In some types of cancer (breast, lung) a malignant pleural effusion may be present during the evolution of the neoplastic disease in more than 50% of cases. The main therapeutic option for palliative purposes in these cases is chemical pleurodesis with talc. The aims of this study were to report on our experience with the use of pleurodesis with talc in the treatment of patients affected by malignant pleural effusions and to analyse the results in the short and mean term. Over the period from January 1998 to December 1999, 16 patients were included in the study. The causes of the pleural effusion were a pleural mesothelioma in 1 patient and pleural metastases in 15 patients (from lung and breast cancers in 62%). We treated 14 of these patients with talc poudrage and 2 patients with talc slurry. The talc was applied under video-assisted thorascopic management in 15 patients, while in 1 patient the talc was injected via the thoracic drainage tube. Two patients died within the first month as a result of progression of the neoplastic disease and one patient was withdrawn from the study owing to failure to collaborate. Of the other 13 patients, 11 (84%) had a total or partial response to the pleurodesis; in 9 of these patients (69.2%) the response remained stable until death, while in 2 patients the pleural effusion reappeared after 3 and 5 months, respectively. Failure of the pleurodesis occurred in 2/13 patients owing to reappearance of the pleural effusion within the first month.     

Do Concomitant Ascites Influence the Effectiveness of Palliative Surgical Management of Pleural Effusion in Patients with Malignancies?

Background  Both pleural and peritoneal effusions are associated with dismal prognosis for patients with malignancies. Pleural effusion often requires surgical palliative management to relieve symptoms. The aim of this study was assess the influence of concomitancy of ascites on the success rate of surgical management of pleural effusion in patients with solid malignancies. Methods  We retrospectively identified 33 patients with different primary malignancies, who underwent palliative surgical treatment for pleural effusion with concomitant ascites. The success rate of pleural effusion management was compared to that of a control group of patients with pleural effusion without ascites. Results  Ovarian and breast cancer were the most common primary sites in the group of patients with pleural and peritoneal effusions. Thoracocentesis was performed in 30 patients with concomitant ascites and in 29 patients without ascites. The median number of thoracocentesis procedures was two in both groups of patients. Talc pleurodesis was performed in 57.6 and 63.3% of patients with and without ascites, respectively. The success rate of pleurodesis was 68.4 and 71.9% for patients with and without concomitant ascites (P = 0.92), respectively. There was no significant difference in the median length of time of the chest tube placement between the two groups (with ascites, 6 days; without ascites, 5 days, P = 0.38). The overall survival was 5.6 months for patients with ascites and 7.8 months for patients without ascites (P = 0.51). Conclusion  Our results suggest that concomitant ascites did not influence the effectiveness of palliative surgical management of pleural effusion in patients with malignancies.     

Parietal pleurectomy for malignant pleural effusion

Background: Malignant pleural effusions are seen frequently in clinical practice and are most commonly caused by breast cancer and lung cancer. Standard treatment usually consists of complete drainage of the pleural space via a chest tube and instillation of a pleural irritant to obtain pleural symphysis. In a majority of instances, such treatment effectively controls the pleural space; however, standard treatment fails in some cases. Methods: Twenty-four patients who did not respond to standard treatment for malignant pleural effusion were subjects for parietal pleurectomy, which was usually performed through an axillary thoracotomy. In several cases, decortication was also necessary. The study population was composed of 18 women and six men. Twelve of the patients had carcinoma of the breast, five carcinoma of the lung, and four carcinoma of the ovary. Results: Three patients died in the perioperative period to give an operative mortality of 12.5%. The other 21 patients all had satisfactory control of their recurrent malignant effusions. Their survival time ranged from 2 to 30 months (average 10.6). Conclusions: Parietal pleurectomy is an effective operation for recurrent malignant pleural effusion. However, because of its significant morbidity and mortality, it should be reserved for failures of standard treatment, and patient selection is important. Presented at the 46th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Los Angeles, California, March 18–21, 1993.     

中西医结合治疗肺癌恶性胸腔积液的研究进展

恶性胸腔积液是晚期肺癌的常见并发症之一,可严重影响肺、心、纵隔等功能.目前西医治疗手段包括胸腔穿刺术、胸腔置管引流术、胸膜固定术及胸腔内给药、胸膜剥离切除术等;中医治疗手段包括口服中药汤剂、中药制剂胸腔内灌注、中药外敷、针灸等.本文对中西医结合治疗肺癌恶性胸腔积液的研究进展进行概述,旨在总结前人采用中西医结合成功的经验...