Abstract:
Recurrent pleural effusion associated with dyspnea and chest pain can hardly reduce patients quality of life. In case of advanced tumour disease symptomatic treatment represents an important role in addition to systematic oncological treatment. Aim of therapy is an effective pleurodesis.
Tunneled pleural catheter (PleurX®-Katheter, Ewimed, Hechingen, Germany) offer new therapeutic options for patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusions. This study presents retrospective treatment data of patients who received implantation of pleural catheter between 2007 and 2010 at schillerhoehe hospital. 285 catheters were implantated in 281 patients. Based on the underlying disease, patients were separated in to groups: patients with benign pleural effusions and patients with malignant effusions. There were 32 patients with 4 different underlying diseases in the group "benign pleural effusions" and 249 patients with 16 different underlying diseases in the group "malignant pleural effusions". We evaluated treatment efficacy, complications and outpatient care. Finally, we compared the results of both groups.
By frequently drainage spontaneus pleurodesis could be reached in 26 patients (81%) in the group "benign pleural effusions" and in 152 patients (61%) in the group "malignant pleural effusions". The average length of catheter stay was 121±195 resp. 81±94 days. Complications could be detected in 25% (8 of 32) resp. 16% (41 of 249). Secundary infections represented the major complication. 2/3 of the patients could handle the catheter by themselves, therefore no outpatient care was required. Comparing the treatment results of both groups, there was only a significant difference in the rate of spontaneus pleurodesis.
Overall treatment of benign and malignant pleural effusions with pleural catheter represents a save method with low rate of complications.