Therapeutic thoracentesis symptoms and activity: a qualitative study

Introduction Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) commonly occur in patients with advanced cancer. Drainage of fluid is used to relieve symptoms and improve quality life. Objective To our understanding how therapeutic aspiration affects activities MPE. Methods Patients presenting the Pleural Clinic at Norfolk Norwich University Hospital a confirmed or suspected MPE participated up three semistructured interviews during their diagnostic/therapeutic pathway. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis by two researchers independently. Results Sixteen participated. Symptoms reported before drainage included breathlessness, cough, chest pain, fatigue anorexia. affected activities, including walking, bending over socialisation. described anxiety about underlying diagnosis fear over-reliance on others. Expectations outcome varied, some hoping for cure others any improvement. After drainage, pain cough improved patients. They feeling sleeping better, but poor appetite remained. Participants more active after aspiration, duration improvement was few days only. Despite this, still felt procedure worthwhile. Conclusion Overall health respiratory following constitutional did not improve. This may be because are caused study suggests that clinicians should consider range symptoms, rather than just planning outcomes clinical trials. These results important inform potential benefits symptom aspiration.