Abstract
Fourteen patients with malignant pleural effusion were treated by pleurodesis after CT-guided effusion drainage.CT guidance was used for accurate chest tube (20 Fr.) placement, and chemical pleurodeses were performed with cisplatin and OK-432 in all cases.The pleurodesis was successful in thirteen of the fourteen patients. After the treatments, dyspnea improved and numeric rating scales dropped from 4 to 1 points (p<0.01). Also, hypoxemia improved and percutaneous oxygen saturation increased from 94% to 97% (p<0.05). In caring for patients with a poor prognosis, palliative interventional radiologic procedure is recommended to improve their patients’ quality Fof life. Also, it seems to be very important to predict the prognosis in patients with advanced cancer by using indices such as palliative prognostic index (PPI), because interventional radiologic procedure is invasive to patients with poor prognosis. In conclusion, following CT guided drainage, pleurodesis effectively eliminates malignant pleural effusion.
