Timothy J. Bedient
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Denver,
Colorado.
Ali I. Musani
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health and University of
Colorado, Denver, Colorado.
Keywords:
Pleural Effusion, Malignancies, VATS.
Abstract
Pleural effusions are a common complication of advanced malignancies, and cause dyspnea, chest pain and cough. In most cases they signify incurable disease, with a median survival after diagnosis usually measured in months rather than years. Thus treatment focuses on improving patient symptoms rather than cure. Chest tube insertion and sclerotherapy, i.e. pleurodesis, remains the standard of care in most countries, with the goal of preventing fluid recurrence after removal. However newer therapeutic options, such as pleuroscopy and long-term indwelling pleuralcatheters, can be performed as outpatients or with a minimal hospital stay, may cause less discomfort to the patient than a standard chest tube or video assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) pleurodesis, are cost effective, and may allow patients to spend more time away from the hospital with loved ones.
