Pleurodesis

Pleurodesis is a medical procedure in which the pleural space is artificially obliterated.[1] It involves the adhesion of the two pleurae.

Pleurodesis
Malignant pleural mesothelioma managed by talc pleurodesis. Video assisted thoracoscopic view.
ICD-9-CM34.92
MeSHD018700
MedlinePlus002956

Uses

Pleurodesis is performed to prevent recurrence of pneumothorax or recurrent pleural effusion. It can be done chemically or surgically. It is generally avoided in patients with cystic fibrosis, if possible, because lung transplantation becomes more difficult following this procedure. Previous pneumothorax with or without pleurodesis is not a contraindication to subsequent lung transplantation.

Chemical

Chemicals such as bleomycin, tetracycline (e.g., minocycline),[2] povidone-iodine, or a slurry of talc can be introduced into the pleural space through a chest drain. The instilled chemicals cause irritation between the parietal and the visceral layers of the pleura which closes off the space between them and prevents further fluid from accumulating.[3] Pharmacy-prepared chemicals for pleurodesis should be clearly labeled "NOT FOR IV ADMINISTRATION"[4] to avoid potentially fatal wrong-site medication errors.[5]

Povidone iodine is equally effective and safe as talc, and may be preferred because of easy availability and low cost.[6]

Chemical pleurodesis is a painful procedure, and so patients are often premedicated with a sedative and analgesics. A local anesthetic may be instilled into the pleural space, or an epidural catheter may be placed for anesthesia.

Surgical

Surgical pleurodesis may be performed via thoracotomy or thoracoscopy. This involves mechanically irritating the parietal pleura, often with a rough pad. Moreover, surgical removal of parietal pleura is an effective way of achieving stable pleurodesis.

Alternatively, tunneled pleural catheters (TPCs) may be placed in an outpatient setting and often result in auto-pleurodesis, whereby portable vacuum bottles are used to evacuate the pleural fluid. Routine evacuation keeps the pleura together, resulting in physical agitation by the catheter, which slowly causes the pleura to scar together. This method, though the minimally invasive and minimal cost solution, takes an average of about 30 days to achieve pleurodesis and is therefore the slowest means of achieving pleurodesis among other modalities.[7]

Sterile talc powder, administered intrapleurally via a chest tube, is indicated as a sclerosing agent to decrease the recurrence of malignant pleural effusions in symptomatic patients. It is usually performed at the time of a diagnostic thoracoscopy.

References
  1. "pleurodesis" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. Chen MD, Chan MD, Tsai MD, Hsu MD, Lin MS, Yuan MD, Prof Chen MD, Prof Lai MD, Prof Yang MD (February 2013). "Simple aspiration and drainage and intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis versus simple aspiration and drainage for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax". The Lancet. 381 (9874): 1277–1282. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62170-9. PMID 23489754.
  3. American Thoracic, Society (November 2000). "American Thoracic Society: Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 162 (5): 1987–2001, 2000. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.162.5.ats8-00. PMC 1745659. PMID 11069845. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03.
  4. "Sterile Talc Powder For Intrapleural Administration Only". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  5. "Fatal intravenous administration of a sterile talc slurry" (PDF). California Department of Public Health, Licensing and Certification Division. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  6. Das SK, Saha SK, Das A, Halder AK, Banerjee SN, Chakraborty M (September 2008). "A study of comparison of efficacy and safety of talc and povidone iodine for pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusions". J Indian Med Assoc. 106 (9): 589–90, 592. PMID 19552086.
  7. Warren MD, Kim MD, Liptay MD (January 2008). "Identification of clinical factors predicting PleurX catheter removal in patients treated for malignant pleural effusion". European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 33 (1): 89–94. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.10.002. PMID 17983758.
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