Journal of Nepal Medical Association (Dec 2004)

CHEMICAL PLEURODESIS USING POWDERED TETRACYCLINE TABLET FOR RECURRENT PNEUMOTHORAX

  • M. Mukhyaprana Prabhu,
  • P Mishra,
  • P Subish,
  • A Malhotra,
  • A Sharma,
  • D K Upadhyay

DOI
https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.436
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 156

Abstract

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Pneumothorax, a life threatening complication in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), requires early recognition and specific management. Recurrent pneumothorax can occur due to rupture of emphysematous bullae in COPD patients. Pneumothorax is treated by insertion of chest tube under focal drainage. Recurrent pneumothorax is treated by open thorocotomy or thorocoscopy and resection of mechanical abrasions and insufflations of talc. Non surgical methods of pleurodesis include chemical pleurodesis using talc powder (Mg3Si4O10(OH2)), tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, bleomycin etc 1. We report a case of successful pleurodesis using tablet tetracycline (500Mg) in a case of recurrent pneumothorax in a COPD patient.