Pleurodesis – Internal Medicine Service Series

Abstract

Introduction: Recurrent pleural effusion is a frequent complication of oncologic diseases that greatly affects the patients’ quality
of life. Pleurodesis is an option to treat these effusions, in order to
alleviate symptoms and to improve the quality of life. This technique can also be used to treat benign pathologies.
Objectives and Methods: retrospective descriptive study of patients that underwent a pleurodesis between the years 2009 and
2013, in an Internal Medicine Service, considering the indication for the procedure, technique, complications, success and follow
-up, seeking to compare the results with the available literature.
Results: 27 patients underwent pleurodesis during this period of time, mostly from the male sex. The average age was 67.3 years
and the main subjacent disease was lung adenocarcinoma. Recurrent malignant pleural effusion was the main indication, and the
other pleurodesis were motivated by pneumothorax. A chest tube was placed and talc was used in most cases. The technique was
successful in 70.4% of the patients. The most frequent complications were pain and fever. 48.1% of the patients were submitted to
some kind of treatment for their disease after the pleurodesis. 30-day mortality after the pleurodesis was 14.8% and 33% of patients
were alive 6 months after the technique.
Conclusion: All the pleurodesis were performed according to the established criteria. The success rates, complications and survival
were consistent with the expected values. This success rate leads
to less hospitalizations and admissions in the Emergency Department and to the improvement of the patients’ quality of life.