Journal of the Indian Medical Association
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Comparative Study
A study of comparison of efficacy and safety of talc and povidone iodine for pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusions.
Pleurodesis is considered as the best palliative therapy for the treatment of symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. Several chemical agents are used for this purpose with variable efficacy and safety. The present study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of talc and povidone iodine as chemical agents for pleurodesis in patients of malignant pleural effusion. ⋯ During the 6 months follow-up, 12 patients of talc pleurodesis and 18 patients of povidone iodine pleurodesis died. Talc is slurry and povidone iodine is equally effective and safe pleurodesing agent for symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. However povidone iodine can be preferred option because of easy availability and low cost.