The use of fine bore silastic catheters to drain carcinomatous pleural effusions.
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.
Shand
J
J
Department of Radiology and Chest Clinic, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.
McCreath
G T
GT
Monie
R D
RD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography