The use of fine bore silastic catheters to drain carcinomatous pleural effusions

Abstract

Thirty-eight patients with carcinomatous pleural effusions had pleurocentesis performed with a fine bore silastic catheter sited under ultrasound guidance. Of these, 27 proceeded to pleurodesis. In the latter group there was a recurrence rate of 3.7% (one patient). Overall there was a complication rate of 26.3% (10 patients), only 5.2% (two patients) requiring active treatment. These results compare favourably with other methods of treatment.