OnCo
termsTerm

Pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheter

aka pleurodesis, indwelling pleural catheter, talc pleurodesis, thoracentesis, pleural drainage

Ways to stop fluid repeatedly collecting around the lung: either glue the two pleural layers together with talc, or leave a small tunnelled drain the patient empties at home.

Malignant pleural effusion causes breathlessness in lung, breast and mesothelioma patients. Draining it (thoracentesis) helps for days; talc pleurodesis via chest tube or VATS seals the space in about 70%; an indwelling pleural catheter allows outpatient management with fewer hospital days (TIME2, AMPLE) and can itself produce pleurodesis. Choice depends on lung re-expansion, prognosis and preference; pleurodesis has no effect on the underlying cancer.

Category
Procedures

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