胸腔镜在恶性胸腔积液诊治中的应用

自１９９２年１１月至１９９６年１０月间,作者用胸腔镜技术对２０例恶性胸腔积液患者进行了诊断和治疗,均获得明确诊断;其中恶性胸膜间皮瘤８例,转移癌１２例。２０例行滑石粉胸膜固定术;其中１８例获得可靠的胸膜固定。有２例未成功的原因为肺实性变而不能复张。术后有２例短暂发热和轻度哮喘,对症治疗后症状明显缓解。作者认为,胸腔镜手术可以大大提高恶性胸腔积液的病因诊断率和胸膜固定术的效果,术中应尽可能将附着于脏、壁层胸膜的纤维素剥除,以利于肺复张。     

Thoracoscopic pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusions

We performed retrospectively study on 136 thoracoscopies done in our clinic in the period January 2000 and December 2004. We reviewed 136 thoracoscopies, 71 patients were male and 65 were female (mean age 58.4 years). Straw colored effusions were present in 78 cases (57%) and hemorrhagic in 58 cases (43%). The surgical procedure consist in diagnostic of thoracoscopy with drainage of pleural effusion, multiply pleural biopsy, pleurodesis and continuous pleural drainage. In our study, the talc powder (5g) was successfully as sclerosing agent. The primary tumor was: lung-63 (46%), breast-26 (19%), mesothelioma-21 (15.5%), stomach-3, ovarian-3, prostate-3, colon-2, lymphoma-1, leukemia-2, plasmocytoma-1 and unknown primary tumor in 11 cases (8%). Adverse effects included-chest pain-35 cases (25%), fever-20 cases (15%), empyema-6 cases (4.5%), prolonged air leak-5 cases (4%), pulmonary infection-2 cases, acute respiratory failure-1 case, malignant invasion of scar-1 patient. For statistical analysis, the success of talc pleurodesis was defined as the absence of pleural fluid on the follow-up chest radiographs. Pleurodesis was successful in 125 cases (92%) of the patients after 1 month-follow-up. Thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis is a safe, economical and effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion.     

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.     

Management of pleural effusions

The management of pleural effusions is necessary in all medical specialties. Chest drains are painful procedures not without risk and every doctor should be familiar with the indication for aspiration or drain insertion and the key differences and risks between an open surgically inserted chest drain and a Seldinger technique ultrasound-guided chest drain insertion. This article aims to give an overall guide to the causes of pleural effusions and how to manage them.     

Management of pleural effusions

The management of pleural effusions affects all specialties in medicine. Chest drains are painful procedures not without risk and every doctor should be familiar with the indication for aspiration or drain insertion and the key differences and risks between an open surgically inserted chest drain and a Seldinger technique ultrasound-guided chest drain insertion. This article aims to give an overall guide to the causes of pleural effusions and how to manage them.     

Pleuroperitoneal shunt in recurrent pleural effusions

Intractable recurrent pleural effusions remain a therapeutic problem. In most instances, instillation of a sclerosing agent into the pleural cavity does obviate the problem. However, in certain circumstances, the more drastic approach of performing a radical parietal pleurectomy must be used. The Denver peritoneovenous shunt was used in 3 patients to shunt the pleural fluids into the peritoneal cavity. In 2 patients, a complementary peritoneovenous shunt was also done. Control of intractable pleural effusion was achieved in all patients. The concept of the pleuroperitoneal shunt takes into consideration the ease of shunting the pleural fluid into the peritoneal cavity from where the fluid is readily reabsorbed by the large peritoneal surface. The shunt can be placed with the patient under local or general anesthesia.     

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.     

The efficacy of polidocanol in pleurodesis in rats

Purpose. Pleurodesis is used to treat pleural effusions, and a number of agents with varying degrees of efficacy and systemic toxicity have been trialed. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and systemic toxicity of polidocanol in pleurodesis.Methods. Thirty albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each. Group 1 (control) was given isotonic saline, group 2 was given 35mg/kg tetracycline, and group 3 was given 2.5mg 0.5% polidocanol, all intrapleurally in a total volume of 0.5ml. The rats were killed on postoperative day 30 and the macroscopic pleural adhesions and microscopic evidence of inflammation were evaluated. Hepatic, renal, and pancreatic function tests were done and various tissues were microscopically examined to detect systemic toxicity. The mean values of macroscopic and microscopic scoring and biochemical parameters were compared among the three groups.Results. The polidocanol- and tetracycline-treated rats had significantly more adhesions than the control group rats, and polidocanol was more effective for pleurodesis than tetracycline (P = 0.027). Microscopic scoring was similar in the polidocanol- and tetracycline-treated rats, being significantly higher than that in the control rats. No significant difference was found in the biochemical parameters among the three groups. There were no signs of toxicity in any of the tissues studied microscopically.Conclusions. Polidocanol was found to be a more effective sclerosing agent than tetracycline for pleurodesis. Systemic toxicity was not shown by the biochemical parameters and histopathologic findings.     

Videothoracoscopic silver nitrate pleurodesis for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: an alternative to pleurectomy and pleural abrasion?

Background: The optimal surgical management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is still controversial, especially in terms of the technique to be used. The aim of this paper was to report our experience of videothoracoscopic silver nitrate pleurodesis (VATSNP). Methods: Between 1995 and 2004, all the medical records of the patients who had undergone silver nitrate videothoracoscopic pleurodesis (SNVTP) were reviewed. All the patients had systematic prospective clinical and radiological follow-up at 1 month. The last 250 patients were retrospectively recontacted for long-term follow-up. Results: Six hundred and three patients underwent SNVP. No intra-operative death or major complication occurred during or after the procedures. Mean operating time was 40.2 ± 10.7 min. The conversion to thoracotomy rate was 2.5%. Main postoperative complications were prolonged air leak (15.6%), partial residual pneumothorax (5.1%), pleural effusion (2.5%) and postoperative bleeding (2.0%). The follow-up was 100% complete 1 month after discharge; at 1 month, the recurrence rate was 0.5%. The last 250 patients were retrospectively recontacted with a mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 2.3 years (184 patients). The long-term recurrence rate was 1.1%. Conclusions: It is one of the first reports on the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic silver nitrate pleurodesis for PSP. We demonstrate safety and effectiveness of the procedure with long-term results comparable with standard open pleural abrasion or pleurectomy.     

Efficacy of Iodopovidone Pleurodesis and Comparison of Small-Bore Catheter Versus Large-Bore Chest Tube

Background  To evaluate the efficacy of iodopovidone as an agent for pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and to compare the efficacy of small-bore catheter (Pleuracan, Braun, Melsungen, Germany) and conventional large-bore chest tube in pleural fluid drainage and sclerotherapy. Methods  Patients with MPE were prospectively consecutively randomized into two groups between August 2004 and February 2007: pleurodesis via conventional (32F) chest tube (group 1) and small-bore catheter (group 2), both using iodopovidone. After 3 months’ follow-up, response rates (complete or partial), complication rates, and duration of procedures within whole group, group 1, and group 2 were compared. Statistical analyses were performed by Mann-Whitney U, χ², and Fisher’s exact test. Results  Forty-three pleurodeses were performed in 41 patients. The response was complete in 26 (60.5%) and partial in 12 (27.9%), and the overall success rate was 88.4%. The response rate was not associated with the type of inserted tube (P = .750), pleural fluid pH (P = .290), or pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (P = .727). In group 1 (n = 20), 12 demonstrated complete and 6 demonstrated partial response, with a 90% success rate; success was 86.9% in group 2, with complete response in 14 and partial response in 6 patients. Success rates were similar in the two groups (P = 1.000). Of 43 procedures, complications were observed in 14 (32.5%), and complication rates were 35% and 30.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .750). The most frequent complication was pain (16.2%), followed by fever, subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea, and hypotension. Conclusion  Iodopovidone is an effective, inexpensive, safe, and easily available alternative in chemical pleurodesis in MPE. The success rates of pleurodesis were found to be similar regardless of the type of the tube inserted.     

Can we predict the failure of thoracostomy tube drainage in the treatment of pediatric parapneumonic collections?

Background/Purpose

Tube thoracostomy is a standard method of treating pediatric parapneumonic collections. Despite recent work denoting thoracoscopy as a superior method of treatment, few studies have looked at factors predictive of tube thoracostomy failure. We reviewed parapneumonic collections initially treated with tube thoracostomy to identify such factors.

Methods

Nontuberculous parapneumonic collections treated initially with tube thoracostomy over a 10-year period were reviewed. A “failed primary tube thoracostomy” was defined as the presence of worsening clinicoradiological signs requiring a further chest procedure (ie, thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, or second thoracostomy).

Results

Fifty-eight patients were identified. Forty-three percent failed primary tube thoracostomy. Within group F (failure group), 32% of patients had a concomitant medical condition (P < .001). Sixty percent of group F patients had duration of symptoms for more than 1 week compared with only 24% of group S (successful group) (P < .001).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that primary treatment of parapneumonic collections with tube thoracostomy is likely to be unsuccessful in patients who are symptomatic for more than a week or who have a concomitant medical condition.A more aggressive primary surgical intervention is suggested for this group.     

Use of an indwelling pleural catheter compared with thorascopic talc pleurodesis in the management of malignant pleural effusions

Therapy for recurrent malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is palliative. Video-assisted thoracic surgery with talc pleurodesis (VATS/TP) is limited to inpatients with completely expandable lung parenchyma. We evaluated the outcomes, safety, and efficacy of an indwelling pleural drainage catheter (PDC) system compared with VATS/TP. Forty-one consecutive patients with symptomatic MPE seen between September 2000 and April 2002 were studied. Patients able to fully re-expand their lungs were treated with VATS/TP; those who could not had PDC placement. Twenty-four (59%) were women. The mean age was 64 +/- 13 years. VATS/TP was performed in only seven patients (17%), and 34 patients had PDC placement. The length of stay (LOS) was 2.8 +/- 5.1 days in the 18 PDC patients who were initially seen as outpatients and 9.4 +/- 9.0 days in the inpatient population (P = 0.013). Short (< 2 days) LOS occurred in 19 (56%) PDC patients but in no VATS/TP patients (P = 0.007). Twenty-eight patients (68%) died during follow-up: three VATS/TP patients (43%) and 25 (74%) PDC patients (P = 0.112). We conclude that the PDC system is an efficacious treatment of patients with MPEs and trapped lungs. The LOS is short in patients initially evaluated as outpatients which contributes to the perception of increased quality of life.     

Thoracoscopy in the diagnosis and management of recurrent pleural effusions

Between April 1984 and July 1988, 102 patients with persistent or recurrent pleural effusions investigated by conventional methods in whom a diagnosis had not been achieved were submitted to thoracoscopy under general anesthesia. A positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.3% of the patients. The procedure was well tolerated, and although some of these were seriously ill patients, there were no procedure-related deaths.     

Chemical pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusions: a randomised prospective study of mepacrine versus bleomycin.

BACKGROUND--The treatment of recurrent pleural effusion in advanced malignant disease should be efficient and with tolerable side effects. Since 1983 intrathoracic instillation of the anti-malaria drug mepacrine has been used to achieve pleurodesis. The cytotoxic drug bleomycin has been claimed to be equally effective and with fewer side effects. The present study was designed to compare these two agents. METHODS--Forty patients with carcinoma and pleural effusions refractory to repeated pleural aspirations over the previous 12 weeks were randomised to receive treatment with intrathoracic instillation of mepacrine or bleomycin. Fluid volumes before and after pleurodesis, drainage time, and side effects were registered and analysed, and the response to treatment was evaluated by clinical examination and chest radiography. RESULTS--The amount of fluid produced after treatment in the patients receiving mepacrine was lower than in those receiving bleomycin, and the duration of chest drainage was shorter. After 30 days 16 of 20 in the mepacrine group responded to treatment and 10 of 20 in the bleomycin group. Most patients died during the three months observation period. Moderate side effects occurred equally in both groups. CONCLUSIONS--Chemical pleurodesis can reduce or stop pleural effusion in many patients, and in this study mepacrine appeared to be more efficient than bleomycin. A prospective study with a larger number of patients is now warranted.     

Intrapleural immunotherapy with Corynebacterium parvum in recurrent malignant pleural effusions.

Twenty-one patients with proven recurrent malignant pleural effusions were randomly allocated to treatment groups receiving either intrapleural Corynebacterium parvum in a dose of 7 mg or intrapleural mustine (20 mg). The designated intrapleural therapy was repeated on one occasion if further pleural aspiration was required. Corynebacterium parvum (nine patients) proved superior to mustine (12 patients) in suppressing the reaccumulation of pleural fluid, and was associated with only minimal side-effects of fever and nausea in two patients. Mustine caused marked nausea and vomiting in almost all patients. Three of the four patients who were deemed "failures" after mustine therapy had complete suppression of pleural fluid reaccumulation after a single dose of C parvum, the survival of the fourth being too short to assess a response adequately. There were no failures in the C parvum treated group. Corynebacterium parvum appears to be an effective, well-tolerated agent in the management of recurrent pleural effusions. The relative contribution of its potent immunological stimulant effect to its mode of action remains uncertain.     

Chemical pleurodesis in the management of iatrogenic chylothorax

Abstrct A case of chylothorax following ligation of persistent ductus arteriosus, successfully treated by drainage and chemical pleurodesis is reported.     

Internal pancreatic fistulas with pancreatic ascites and pancreatic pleural effusions: recognition and management

Background : Internal pancreatic fistulas are well recognized complications of chronic pancreatitis. Methods : Six patients with internal pancreatic fistulas were treated over a period of 5 years from 1995 to 1999. Four patients presented with ascites, one patient presented with ascites and bilateral pleural effusion and the sixth patient presented with left‐sided pleural effusion. Five patients were chronic alcoholics and in one patient the cause of pancreatitis was not clear. Although the serum amylase was mildly elevated the levels of amylase in the aspirated fluid were consistently elevated (more than 800 Somogyi units/100 mL), along with the level of proteins (> 3 g/100 mL), and on this basis the diagnosis was made. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) demonstrated pancreatic ductal disruption in four cases. Initial treatment was conservative, consisting of nasogastric aspiration, nil per oral, antisecretory drugs, repeated paracentesis or thoracocenthesis and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). In two patients nasopancreatic drains (NPD) were placed across the disrupted pancreatic duct. Results : In one patient conservative treatment with NPD was successful, and the remaining five patients required surgical intervention. There was no mortality. Two patients developed surgery‐related complications that were successfully managed, but they required an extended hospital stay. Conclusion : Internal pancreatic fistulas should be treated initially non‐operatively; if this is not effective, operative therapy should be considered without delay.     

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。     

Omission of routine chest x-ray after chest tube removal is safe in selected trauma patients

Background

Definitive practice guidelines regarding the utility of chest x-ray (CXR) following chest tube removal in trauma patients have not been established. The authors hypothesized that the selective use of CXR following chest tube removal is safe and cost effective.

Methods

A retrospective review of chest tube insertions performed at a level I trauma center was conducted.

Results

Patients who underwent chest tube removal without subsequent CXR had a lower mean Injury Severity Score and were less likely to have suffered penetrating thoracic injuries. These patients received fewer total CXRs and had shorter durations of chest tube therapy and shorter lengths of stay following tube removal. Subsequent reinterventions were performed more frequently in the CXR group. The annual decrease in hospital charges by foregoing a CXR was $16,280.

Conclusions

The selective omission of CXR following chest tube removal in less severely injured, nonventilated patients does not adversely affect outcomes or increase reintervention rates. Avoiding unnecessary routine CXR after chest tube removal could provide a significant reduction in total hospital charges.     

Efficacy of short term versus long term tube thoracostomy drainage before tetracycline pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND--A study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of short term tube thoracostomy drainage with standard tube thoracostomy drainage before instillation of tetracycline for sclerotherapy of malignant pleural effusions. METHODS--The study consisted of a randomised clinical trial in a sequential sample of 25 patients with malignant pleural effusions documented cytopathologically. Fifteen patients were randomly assigned to group 1 (standard protocol) and 10 to group 2 (short term protocol). Patients in group 1 had tube thoracostomy suction drainage until radiological evidence of lung re-expansion was obtained and the amount of fluid drained was < 150 ml/day, before tetracycline (1.5 g) was instilled. The chest tube was removed when the amount of fluid drained after instillation was < 150 ml/day. Patients in group 2 also had suction drainage, but the tetracycline (1.5 g) was instilled when the chest radiograph showed the lung to be re-expanded and the effusion drained, which was usually within 24 hours. The chest tube was removed the next day. RESULTS--The response to tetracycline sclerotherapy in the two groups was the same (80%) but the duration of chest tube drainage was significantly shorter for patients in group 2 (median two days) than for those in group 1 (median seven days). CONCLUSIONS--The duration of chest tube drainage before sclerotherapy for malignant pleural effusions need not be influenced by the amount of fluid drained daily but by radiographic evidence of fluid evacuation and lung re-expansion. Shorter duration of drainage will reduce the length of hospital stay without sacrificing the efficacy of pleurodesis.