title: Quality-of-Life assessment in malignant pleural effusion treated with indwelling pleural catheter: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant pleural effusion is a clinical problem that impairs Quality of Life in patients with advanced malignancies. An indwelling pleural catheter is an alternative treatment to palliate some of the symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the Quality of Life of outpatients with malignant pleural effusion who were treated with an indwelling pleural catheter. Questionnaire compliance, catheter patency time, and survival were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter observational study was conducted across five hospitals in Spain. Quality of Life was assessed at three different time points (before catheter placement and at 30 and 60 days post-placement) using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire QLQ-C30. For lung cancer patients, the QLQ-LC13 was also used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusion treated with an indwelling pleural catheter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 51 outpatients completed the baseline QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Of these, 28 completed the questionnaire at 30 days. Of these 28 patients, 13 completed the questionnaire at 60 days. Scores showed a significant improvement in symptoms scales at 30 days (p = 0.03). Global health status and functional scales showed a non-significant trend to improvement at 30 and 60 days. A total of 27 lung cancer patients completed the QLQ-LC13 questionnaire. Items assessing dyspnea showed a significant improvement following catheter placement (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indwelling pleural catheter is useful for palliative management of recurrent malignant pleural effusion in that it benefits Quality of Life in outpatients with advanced malignancies. In lung cancer patients, scores indicated that indwelling pleural catheter also provides significant relief of dyspnea.
authors: 1Department of Pneumology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors: María-José
authors: MJ
authors: Lorenzo
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Modesto
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Pérez
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Bollo
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Cordovilla
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Muñoz
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Pérez-Fidalgo
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Cases
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Pleural effusion; Quality of Life; catheters; indwelling; malignant; outpatients