Old wine in a new bottle: Our experience with indwelling pleural catheters in malignant pleural effusion

Abstract

Background: Malignant pleural effusions indicate advanced stage of cancer and making the treatment decisions difficult for the treating physicians. There are multiple treatment options for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion including pleurodesis, thoracocentesis, indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs), and pleural decortication surgeries. However, there is a considerable number of patients who are not candidates for either pleurodesis or have repeated thoracocentesis, these patients can be carefully selected for management with IPCs. Aims and Objectives: To establish the use of indwelling pleural catheter in malignant pleural effusions. Materials and Methods: Patients who are not candidates for either pleurodesis or have repeated thoracocentesis, these patients can be carefully selected for management with IPCs. This is a prospective study of 23 patients with underlying trapped lung or recurrent pleural effusions who have been treated with IPCs from January 2021 to December 2022. We have used Rocket pleural catheter in this study. Results: The common primary malignancy was from lungs with the most common histologic type being adenocarcinoma type. We had good improvement in symptoms and have observed minor complications in about 21% of the individuals. Conclusion: IPC can be considered a good treatment option for patients with malignant pleural effusion with trapped lungs and patients with recurrent pleural effusions.

Keywords

• indwelling pleural catheter
• intercostal drainage
• malignant effusion
• malignant pleural effusion
• pleural catheter
• pleurx
• rocket