title: Malignant pleural effusion treatment outcomes: pleurodesis via video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) versus tube thoracostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been widely used in the diagnosis and management of various thoracic diseases. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the effectiveness of patients undergoing pleurodesis through VATS versus tube thoracostomy for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Study design was a retrospective review of patients treated in medical centers and hospitals in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-eight patients with MPE resistant to systemic therapy resulting from various types of carcinomas were retrospectively reviewed. VATS pleurodesis was carried out in 82 and tube thoracostomy with pleurodesis in 66 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no intraoperative deaths and 4 (2.7 %) in-hospital deaths. One hundred and eighteen (79.7 %) patients were available for follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in the preoperative characteristics of the two treatment groups, except that the amount of effusion and the percentage of patients with dyspnea were both higher in the VATS treatment group. The duration of chest tube drainage was significantly longer ( P < 0.01) in the tube thoracostomy treatment group (9.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 6.2 +/- 2.3 days). There were no significant differences between the treatment groups with regard to the incidence of surgical complications and perioperative mortality. Median survival was similar in both treatment groups; however, the VATS treatment group had a significantly longer median recurrence-free survival than the tube thoracostomy treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS treatment for MPE appears to be superior to tube thoracostomy for diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness in preventing effusion recurrence; however, the role of these treatments for MPE is palliative, and does not significantly prolong survival time.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tzu-Chi General Hospital, No. 20, Lane 199, Sec. 2 Ba-De Road, Chung-Shan District, Taipei, Taiwan 104, Republic of China. luh572001@yahoo.com.tw
authors.forename: S-P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Luh
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tzao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D015505:Chest Tubes; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000601:surgery*; D018700:Pleurodesis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents