Long-term indwelling pleural catheter (PleurX) for malignant pleural effusion unsuitable for talc pleurodesis

Talc pleurodesis using talc slurry via chest tube is a primary option in malignant pleural effusion, since life expectancy is short and surgical decortication is hazardous. Incomplete lung expansion after fluid evacuation, and/or excessive fluid secretion predicts failure of pleurodesis. A mini-invasive alternative was investigated.Between March 2004 and September 2005, 51 consecutive patients with malignant pleural effusion, and clinically...