BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are effective against lung adenocarcinoma. However, limited data is available assessing the effectiveness of EGFR-TKI use in preventing re-accumulation of MPE. To our knowledge, there is no literature on comparison of talc pleurodesis with EGFR-TKIs alone on re-accumulation of MPE in Asian populatio...

The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of tunnelled pleural catheters (TPC) in patients with malignant pleural effusions who would otherwise be candidates for pleurodesis. Patients were selected from a previously reported database of 250 TPC insertions. The study group was selected based on lung re-expansion and survival as a surrogate maker of eligibility for pleurodesis...

Chemical pleurodesis is one of the therapeutic tools to control hepatic hydrothorax. Tetracycline and derivatives have been widely accepted as an effective and safe treatment for the purpose, but availability is the big concern. Tigecycline is an antibiotic derivative of tetracycline, which has demonstrated to be an effective pleurodesing agent in animal models. The aim of the study was to docu...

BACKGROUND The standard operative treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is thoracoscopic wedge resection, but necessity of pleurodesis still remains controversial. Nevertheless, pleural procedure after wedge resection such as pleurodesis has been performed in some patients who need an extremely low recurrence rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS From January 2000 to July 2010, 207 patien...

Pleurodesis aims to obliterate the pleural space by producing extensive adhesion of the visceral and parietal pleura, in order to control relapse of either pleural effusions (mostly malignant) or pneumothorax. A tight and complete apposition between the two pleural layers is a necessary condition to obtain a successful pleurodesis, but – besides this mechanical aspect – there are many biologica...

BACKGROUND Malignant pleural effusion is a common sequelae in patients with certain malignancies. It represents a terminal condition with short median survival (in terms of months) and the goal is palliation. Aim of our study is to analyze morbidity, mortality and life expectancy following videothoracoscopic talc poudrage. MATERIALS AND METHODS From September 2004 to October 2009, 400 patient...

Induction of pleurodesis offers benefit for patients with metastatic tumors and symptomatic malignant pleural effusions, but the best method for achieving this is still unknown. In this prospective, randomized comparison of two well-established pleurodesis procedures, 36 patients with malignant pleural effusions, expanded lungs after drainage, and expected survival of > 1 mo received either ble...

Here we report a 22-year old woman with massive and bilateral transudative effusion succeeded by pulmonary edema and brain edema and death. Investigations for systemic disorders were negative. Exacerbation of dyspnea after intravenous fluid infusion was a main problem. As effusion was refractory to medical treatment, the patient was referred for surgical pleurodesis and bilateral surgical pleur...

BACKGROUND Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are increasingly used in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). In general, these catheters have been reported to manage MPE efficiently. Unfortunately, insurance companies in the Netherlands do not reimburse these catheters in either first-line treatment or following failed talc pleurodesis. OBJECTIVES Investigation of direct costs o...

Malignant pleural effusion develops frequently in patients with advanced lung cancer. Chemical pleurodesis is the most effective palliative treatment for these patients. The efficacy of pleurodesis using both OK-432, a preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes, and doxorubicin for 20 patients with cytology-proven malignant pleural effusion associated with lung cancer was evaluated. After complete r...