Minimally invasive approach with small diameter pleural drainage catheter (Easydren®) in malignant pleural effusions

Aim: Treatment of malignant pleural effusions is drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Our aim in this study is to investigate the success and complications of the procedure in patients who underwent drainage with an 8F pleural drainage catheter due to malignant pleural effusion, in the light of the literature. Material and Method: The study included 124 patients who underwent 8F pleural drainage catheter (Easydren®) for malignant pleural effusion between August 2020 and October 2022. Clinical, radiological and laboratory findings of all patients were obtained from the automation system and archive files. Age, gender, etiology, number and duration of catheter drainage, complications and hospital stay of the patients were recorded. Results: Of the patients, 67 (54.0%) were female and 57 (45.9%) were male. The mean age was 54 (31-87). A total of 136 pleural drainage catheters were applied to 124 patients. Drainage and complete reexpansion of the lung were successful in 125 (91.9%) of 136 procedures. No acute surgical complications were observed during the application of pleural drainage catheters. The mean drainage time was 4.6 days (3 – 11). The hospital stay was 5.7 days (4-12). Conclusion: We believe that small diameter pleural drainage catheters are as effective as conventional chest tubes for the drainage of malignant pleural effusion with greater patient comfort. Although it has the disadvantage of rarely occlusion during follow-up, it is less invasive and has fewer complications compared to tube thoracostomy.