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© 2004 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 23:1171-1176 • 0278-4297

Sonographically Guided Small-Bore Chest Tubes and Sonographic Monitoring for Rapid Sclerotherapy of Recurrent Malignant Pleural Effusions

Sergio Sartori, MD, Paola Tombesi, MD, Davide Tassinari, MD, Piercarlo Ceccotti, MD, Ingrid Nielsen, MD, Lucio Trevisani, MD and Vincenzo Abbasciano, MD

Section of Interventional Ultrasound and Department of Internal Medicine, St Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy (S.S., P.T., P.C., I.N., L.T., V.A.); and Oncology Division, Civil Hospital, Rimini, Italy (D.T.).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Sergio Sartori, MD, Section of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Internal Medicine, St Anna Hospital, Corso Giovecca 203, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy. E-mail: srs{at}unife.it.

Objective. To evaluate the role of sonographically guided small-bore chest catheters and sonographically based monitoring of fluid evacuation in rapid sclerotherapy of malignant pleural effusions. Methods. In 50 patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusions, a 9F catheter was inserted into the pleural space under sonographic guidance. When sonography documented complete fluid evacuation, bleomycin (0.75 mg/kg) was injected via the tube. Fluid drainage was monitored for 12 hours; if fluid output was less than 100 mL, the pleural catheter was removed; otherwise, a second dose of bleomycin was administered after 24 hours. If loculations or fluid reaccumulations due to tube malfunctioning were detected, they were evacuated by sonographically guided thoracentesis, and bleomycin (1.5 mg/100 mL of fluid) was injected through the thoracentesis needle. All patients were monitored for fluid recurrence with thoracic sonography. Results. Twenty-nine patients received 1 dose of bleomycin, and 21 received 2 doses. In 11 patients with residual loculations, sonographically guided thoracentesis was performed, and bleomycin was injected into the loculations. In 29 patients, pleurodesis was completed within 24 hours; in 21, it was completed within 48 hours. The 30-day response was 84%; the long-term response was 60%. No complications or serious side effects were observed. Conclusions. Rapid pleurodesis can be accomplished within 24 to 48 hours, with good short- and long-term responses. Thoracic sonography plays a pivotal role. It guides placement of the pleural catheter and is valuable in the monitoring of fluid evacuation for determining the right time for sclerosing agent administration and in the detection and treatment of loculations or residual pleural fluid due to tube malfunctioning.

Key Words: bleomycin • malignant pleural effusion • rapid pleurodesis • sonography

Abbreviations: CR, complete response • NR, no response • PR, partial response




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J. E. Heffner and J. S. Klein
Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions
Mayo Clin. Proc., February 1, 2008; 83(2): 235 - 250.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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