Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques
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Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech · Apr 2004
Comparative StudyChemical pleurodesis to improve patients' quality of life in the management of malignant pleural effusions: the 15 year experience of the National Cancer Institute of Milan.
We analyzed chemical pleurodesis role in recurrent neoplastic pleural effusions management, performed by two different techniques: VATS and minimal lateral thoracotomy. We compared the results obtained using the two different procedures, and we also evaluated the two sclerosing agents used (talc and alcohol). From January 1987 to March 2002, we treated 565 patients with malignant pleural effusion: 355 (63%) by VATS and 210 (37%) through mini-thoracotomy all of them underwent chemical pleurodesis: 442 (78%) by means of talc and 123 (22%) by alcohol. ⋯ Talc was superior to alcohol as sclerosant agent regardless of the surgical procedure. Comparing the two techniques, VATS should be preferred to minimal thoracotomy. We can suggest talc pleurodesis by VATS as the choice treatment in case of recurrent pleural effusions.