title: Early dislodgement of Indwelling Pleural Catheter (IPC): a balancing act.
abstract: A 63-year-old nonsmoker with right malignant pleural effusion derived symptomatic benefit following drainage of his effusion. Following insertion of indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), 1.3 L of blood-stained fluid was drained into underwater sealed bottle (Atrium®), but the IPC dislodged 26 h after continuous connection. We believe that the weight of the drainage bottle (including the un-emptied fluid) and the prolonged connection time contributed to this uncommon event reported in the literature. There was no recurrence when his second IPC was connected to a drainage bag which was emptied at every 500 mL, capped at 2 h each time. An anchoring stitch should also be considered when drainage devices heavier than the manufacturer bottles are used to drain IPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Alvin Hon Man
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jenny Chun Li
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Susanna So Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Fanny Wai San
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong ; Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong.
authors.forename: David Shu-Cheong
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
keywords: Indwelling pleural catheter; malignant pleural effusion