Management of a malignant pleural effusion: British Thoracic Society pleural disease guideline 2010

Pleural effusion is a common problem. Pleural effusion developed as a sequel to the underlying disease process, including pressure/volume imbalance, infection, and malignancy. In addition to pleural effusion, persistent air leak after surgery and bronchopleural fistula remain a challenge by a physician. An understanding of the pleural disease, including its diagnosis and management, has made an extraordinary step. The introduction of molecular detection of organism-specific infections, risk stratification, and improvement in the non-surgical treatment of patients with pleural infection are all within reach and maybe the standard of care shortly. This article discusses the role of existing techniques, and some of the more recent ones, which are now available for establishing the diagnosis of pleural disease. The initial approach to diagnosis usually begins by distinguishing between transudates and exudates, based on the concentration of protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in pleural fluid. The exact role of amylase and LDH can provide additional information towards the differential diagnosis of various exudative pleural effusions. With newer cytochemical staining techniques in pleural fluid, diagnostic results of malignant pleural effusion can increase by up to 80%. Ultrasound (US) and thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans have further improved the diagnosis of undiagnosed pleural effusion. The reappearance of thoracoscopy as the latest diagnostic and therapeutic tool (e.g., Pleurodesis) for undiagnosed or recurrent pleural effusions. Management of malignant pleural effusion continues to develop with the introduction of tunneled pleural catheters and chemical pleurodesis procedures. Advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of pleural disease and what appears to be an increasing multidisciplinary interest in a doctor managing patients with pleural disease.

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Use of indwelling pleural catheters for the definitive treatment of malignant pleural effusion

Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia ◽

10.1590/s1806-37562016000000021 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 14-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fernando Conrado Abrão ◽

Igor Renato Louro Bruno de Abreu ◽

Maria Gabriela Cavalcanti ◽

José Franklin Soares Pompa-Filho

Keyword(s):

Pleural Effusion ◽

Malignant Pleural Effusion ◽

Median Overall Survival ◽

Treatment Guidelines ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Definitive Treatment ◽

Cancer Site ◽

British Thoracic Society ◽

Primary Cancer Site

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the use of indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods: We prospectively collected data from patients with MPE undergoing IPC placement between January of 2014 and July of 2015. All patients submitted to IPC placement had a life expectancy > 30 days, in accordance with the MPE treatment guidelines established by the British Thoracic Society. The data collected included gender, age, body mass index, primary cancer site, duration of IPC drainage, IPC-related complications, length of hospital stay, pleural effusion recurrence, and occurrence of spontaneous pleurodesis. Results: A total of 19 patients underwent IPC placement during the study period. Median overall survival after IPC insertion was 145 days. The median follow-up among the surviving patients was 125 days (range, 53-485 days), and the median time between catheter insertion and removal was 31 days (range, 2-126 days). There were IPC-related complications in 5 patients (26.2%), and spontaneous pleurodesis was achieved in 8 (42.0%). Among those 8 patients, the IPC was removed between days 30 and 126 in 4, and spontaneous pleurodesis occurred within the first 30 days in 4. Conclusions: The use of IPCs seems to be feasible and safe in patients with MPE.

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