HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): William H. Warren Anthony W. Kim Michael J. Liptay Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Warren, W. H. Articles by Liptay, M. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Warren, W. H. Articles by Liptay, M. J. Related Collections Pleura

Identification of clinical factors predicting Pleur_x ^® catheter removal in patients treated for malignant pleural effusion

Department of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Received 31 May 2007; received in revised form 4 October 2007; accepted 8 October 2007.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: 1725 W. Harrison Street, Suite 774, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Tel.: +1 312 738 3732; fax: +1 312 738 9763. (Email: wwarren{at}rush.edu).

Objective: The objective of the study was to review the clinical records of patients undergoing insertion of a Pleur_x ^® catheter in the management of malignant pleural effusions. In particular, clinical parameters were analyzed for their influence on catheter removeability. Methods: Between January 1998 and July 2006, 263 patients underwent insertion of 295 Pleur_x ^® catheters for malignant pleural effusion(s). Patients were allocated to one of four groups based upon the site of the primary tumor: group 1 (breast), group 2 (lung), group 3 (gynecologic), and group 4 (all others). A history of prior chest irradiation, cytologic analysis (positive or negative for malignant cells), and incidence of trapped lung were also studied to determine if, in addition to the primary site, these influenced the incidence of pleurodesis. Results: Overall, 58.6% of Pleur_x ^® catheters were removed prior to death. The incidence of spontaneous symphysis and catheter removal in groups 1 (69.6%) and 3 (72.5%) was significantly higher than in groups 2 and 4 (p < 0.001). In addition, absence of a history of chest wall irradiation, cytologic positivity and a trapped lung all influenced catheter removeability to a significant degree (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pleur_x ^® catheters effectively relieve patients of dyspnea by evacuating the pleural space. Spontaneous pleural symphysis and catheter removal is more likely in patients with breast or gynecologic primary tumors, absence of chest wall irradiation, cytologic positivity, and complete re-expansion of the underlying lung.

Key Words: Pleural diseases • Malignant pleural effusion • Pleur_x ^® catheter • Trapped lung

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. R. Flaherty Clinical Year in Review IV: Pediatric Pulmonary and Critical Care, Cystic Fibrosis, Asthma, and Pleural Disease Proceedings of the ATS, September 15, 2009; 6(6): 506 - 511. [Full Text] [PDF]