title: [The treatment of malignant pleural effusions: the experience of a multidisciplinary thoracic endoscopy group].
abstract: More than half of neoplastic patients show in their clinical history the onset of pleural effusion. Malignant pleural effusion produces dyspnea, decreases respiratory function and quality of life in patients with advanced cancers. Optimal treatment is actually controversial. The aim of this study is to analyze the experience of malignant pleural effusion treatment of the Multidisciplinary Group of Thoracic Endoscopy. Patients are been subdivided in two group, depending on respiratory performance status and they are been submit to a Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) with talc pleurodesis and to positioning of a chronic indwelling pleural catheter. The treatment of malignant pleural effusion with the methods reported above allows, not only to achieve palliation of symptomatology, but also to achieve pleurodesis in patients with limited life-expectancy with good cost-beneficial ratio.
authors.affiliation: UOa Chirurgia Generale I, ASL 3, Ospedale Maria Vittoria, Torino.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertolaccini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zamprogna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Urso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massaglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D015505:Chest Tubes; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004322:Drainage / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013627:Talc / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013627:Talc