The Hospital and Patient Burden of Indwelling Pleural Catheters: A Retrospective Case Series of 210 Indwelling Pleural Catheter Insertions

Assessing Factors That May Impact Physician-based Decisions for Placing Indwelling Pleural Catheters

INTRODUCTION

Malignant pleural effusion is a common finding in patients with advanced cancer and is a frequent cause of dyspnea. Current guidelines indicate thoracentesis for symptomatic patients, while indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) are recommended for patients who develop pleural fluid re-accumulation. IPC maintenance, however, requires a significant level of financial and social support. This study aims to analyze potential influencing factors that may play a role in the decision for placing IPCs in patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusions.

METHODS

This study retrospectively collected baseline sociodemographic and laboratory data in patients who underwent thoracentesis for malignant pleural effusion from August 2016 to October 2021, and selected patients who presented with re-accumulation of pleural fluid within 30 days or had a pulmonary physician's note documenting that IPC is a potential management option. Of these selected patients (IPC candidates), we stratified patients who underwent IPC placement and those who did not, and performed statistical analysis between these 2 groups.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-six patients who underwent thoracentesis were regarded as IPC candidates. Almost all baseline sociodemographic characteristics, including ethnicity ( P =0.637), sex ( P =0.655), and marital status ( P =0.773) were similar between the 2 groups, but significantly higher ECOG scores ( P =0.049) were noted in the IPC group. No statistically significant differences were noted in age, body mass index, platelet, PTT, international normalized ratio, creatinine, white blood cell, red blood cells, fluid protein, or fluid lactate dehydrogenase. Fluid albumin ( P =0.057) and serum neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio ( P =0.003) were significantly higher in patients without IPC placement.

CONCLUSION

This study did not recognize any baseline sociodemographic factors that may contribute to the decision to place IPCs.

The Psychosocial Impact of Indwelling Pleural Catheters: A Scoping Review

We aimed to identify research on the psychosocial impact of Indwelling Pleural Catheters (IPC); report on the extent, range, and nature of studies; and summarize the findings. A secondary aim was to capture reports on patient support needs and/or self-management of IPC. A systematic literature search was undertaken, with evidence synthesis planned if sufficient literature was identified. We searched ten databases available through the United Kingdom National Health Service Knowledge and Library Hub: the British Nursing Index (BNI), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Exerpta Medica Care (Emcare), E-thesis Online Service (EThOS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), National Grey Literature Collection, Psychological Information Database (PsycInfo), and PubMed. We included studies reporting on the psychosocial impact of indwelling pleural catheters or their effect on quality of life (QoL). The latter was limited to those studies using qualitative research methods from which we could identify psychosocial impacts. The evaluation of psychosocial factors was not the primary objective of any identified study, and we found no studies in which quality of life was assessed using qualitative methods. Two studies met the inclusion criteria but only tangentially. While indwelling pleural catheters may improve the quality of life in patients with pulmonary effusion when assessed quantitatively, there is a dearth of research examining their psychosocial impact.

Intrapleural Anticancer Therapy for Malignant Pleural Diseases: Facts or Fiction?

Malignant pleural diseases involves both primary pleural malignancies (e.g., mesothelioma) as well as metastatic disease involving the pleura. The management of primary pleural malignancies remains a challenge, given their limited response to conventional treatments such as surgery, systemic chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. In this article, we aimed to review the management of primary pleural malignancy as well as malignant pleural effusion and assess the current state of intrapleural anticancer therapies. We review the role intrapleural chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and immunogene therapy, as well as oncolytic viral, therapy and intrapleural drug device combination. We further discuss that while the pleural space offers a unique opportunity for local therapy as an adjuvant option to systemic therapy and may help decrease some of the systemic side effects, further patient outcome-oriented research is needed to determine the exact role of these treatments within the armamentarium of currently available options.

Day Case Local Anaesthetic Thoracoscopy: Experience from 2 District General Hospitals in the United Kingdom

Background: Local anaesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT) can be a vital procedure for diagnosis of unexplained pleural effusions. Traditionally, poudrage for pleurodesis and insertion of a large bore drain necessitated admission. There has been a shift towards performing LAT as a day case procedure with indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) insertion. This was advocated during the COVID pandemic by the British Thoracic Society (BTS). To determine the feasibility of such pathways, continuous evaluations are required. Methods: All day case LAT procedures with IPC insertion, performed in theatre, were identified at two large district general hospitals (Northumbria HealthCare in the North East of England and Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife, in Scotland). Rapid pleurodesis with talc was not performed due to local staffing problems. All patients had their LAT in theatre under conscious sedation with a rigid scope. Demographics, clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics and outcomes were collected. Results: 79 patients underwent day case LAT. The lung did not deflate, meaning biopsies were not enabled, in four of the patients. The mean age was 72 years (standard deviation 13). Fifty-five patients were male and twenty-four were female. The main diagnoses were lung cancers, mesotheliomas and fibrinous pleuritis with an overall diagnostic sensitivity of 93%. Other diagnoses were breast, tonsillar, unknown primary cancers and lymphomas. Seventy-three IPCs were simultaneously placed and, due to normal macroscopic appearances in two patients, two large bore drains were placed and removed within one hour of LAT termination. Sixty-six (88%) patients were discharged on the same day. Seven patients required admission: one for treatment of surgical emphysema, four because they lived alone, one for pain control and one for control of a cardiac arrythmia. Within 30 days, there were five IPC site infections with two resultant empyemas (9%), with no associated mortality. Two patients developed pneumonia requiring admission and one patient required admission for pain management. The median number of days for which the IPCs remained in situ was 78.5 days (IQR 95). The median length of stay (LoS) was 0 days (IQR 0). No patients required further interventions for pleural fluid management. Conclusions: Day case LAT with IPC insertion is feasible with this current set up, with a median stay of 0 days, and should be widely adopted. The health economics of preventing admission are considerable, as our previous analysis showed a median length of stay of 3.96 days, although we are not comparing matched cohorts.

Update on biology and management of mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable cancer that is usually caused by asbestos exposure several decades before symptoms arise. Despite widespread prohibition of asbestos production and supply, its incidence continues to increase. It is heterogeneous in its presentation and behaviour, and diagnosis can be notoriously difficult. Identification of actionable gene mutations has proven challenging and current treatment options are largely ineffective, with a median survival of 10-12 months.However, the past few years have witnessed major advances in our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This has also revealed the limitations of existing diagnostic algorithms and identified new treatment targets.Recent clinical trials have re-examined the role of surgery, provided new options for the management of associated pleural effusions and heralded the addition of targeted therapies. The increasing complexity of mesothelioma management, along with a desperate need for further research, means that a multidisciplinary team framework is essential for the delivery of contemporary mesothelioma care.This review provides a synthesised overview of the current state of knowledge and an update on the latest research in the field.

Indwelling pleural catheter versus talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) results from primary mesothelioma or the spreading of metastatic cancer. Both talc pleurodesis (TP) and indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) improve MPE symptoms. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy of TP with that of IPC in patients with MPE. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for studies published before February 2020. Individual effect sizes were standardized, and a meta-analysis was conducted to calculate a pooled effect size by using random effects models. In total, 4 trials with 500 patients were reviewed. Difference in pleurodesis success rate and change in dyspnea scores at 4 and 6 weeks between MPE patients treated with IPC and those treated with TP for pleurodesis were nonsignificant. The number of hospital inpatient days was significantly lower among patients who were treated with IPC (weight mean difference: 2.19; 95% confidence interval 0.70-3.67) than among those who were treated with TP. No significant difference was shown in adverse event profile between patients treated with IPC and those treated with TP for pleurodesis. In conclusion, both TP and IPC are equally effective in treating patients with MPE. The number of hospitalization days was significantly lower for patients who were treated with IPC, but the magnitude of the difference is of uncertain clinical importance.

Multidisciplinary approaches to the management of malignant pleural effusions: a guide for the clinician

INTRODUCTION

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a complication of advanced cancer, associated with significant mortality and morbidity. This entity is commonly treated by respiratory physicians, oncologists, and thoracic surgeons. There have been various randomized clinical trials assessing the relative merits of chest drain pleurodesis, indwelling pleural catheters, treatment of septated MPEs, the use of thoracoscopy and pleurodesis and pleurodesis through IPCs in the past decade which have addressed some key areas in the management of MPEs, with an increasing focus on patient related outcome.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we examine and review the literature for management strategies for MPEs and discuss future directions. A detailed search of scientific literature and clinical trial registries published in the past two decades was undertaken.

EXPERT OPINION

Tremendous progress has been made in management of MPE in the past decade and current strategy involves patient preference along with local expertise that is available.

Survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion undergoing talc pleurodesis

OBJECTIVES

Recent observations indicate a potential survival benefit in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) who achieve successful pleurodesis in comparison to patients who experience effusion recurrence post pleurodesis. This study aimed to explore this observation using two datasets of patients with MPE undergoing talc pleurodesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dataset 1 comprised patients who underwent talc pleurodesis at Oxford Pleural Unit for MPE. Dataset 2 comprised patients enrolled in the TIME1 clinical trial. Pleurodesis success was defined as absence of need for further therapeutic procedures for MPE in the three months following pleurodesis. Data on various clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters were collected and survival was compared according to pleurodesis outcome (success vs. failure) after adjusting for the aforementioned parameters.

RESULTS

Dataset 1 comprised 60 patients with mean age 74.1±10.3 years. The most common primary malignancies were mesothelioma, breast and lung cancer. 29 patients (48.3%) achieved pleurodesis. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for poor survival with pleurodesis failure was 2.85 (95% CI 1.08-7.50, =p 0.034). Dataset 2 comprised 259 patients from the TIME1 trial. The mean age was 70.8±10.3 and the most common primary malignancies were mesothelioma, lung and breast cancer. Pleurodesis was successful in 205 patients (79%). aOR for poor survival was 1.62 (95% CI 1.09-2.39, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Achieving pleurodesis seems to impart a survival benefit in patients with MPE. Further studies are required to explore factors that may contribute to this phenomenon and to address the difference in survival between pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheter interventions.

Clinical Predictors of Successful and Earlier Removal of Indwelling Pleural Catheters in Benign Pleural Effusions

BACKGROUND

Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are an emerging therapy for persistent benign pleural effusions. IPCs may achieve pleurodesis and be removed.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify factors associated with higher pleurodesis rates and earlier IPC removal in benign pleural effusions.

METHODS

We reviewed a database of IPCs inserted for nonmalignant pleural effusions in the period August 2007 to June 2017 in patients who underwent medical thoracoscopy (MT). Clinical, radiologic, and pleural fluid data were recorded. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used to assess the rate of and time to pleurodesis.

RESULTS

304 IPCs were reviewed. 52 were excluded from the pleurodesis analysis due to removal for another reason, or because of an eventual diagnosis of malignant disease. The overall pleurodesis rate was 74%, and median time to pleurodesis was 42 (IQR 18-93) days. Variables with increased pleurodesis rates in multivariate analysis include Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of ≤2 (odds ratio [OR] 4.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.75-10.16) and MT (OR 5.27, 95% CI 2.74-10.11). No variables were associated with reduced pleurodesis rates in multivariate analysis. Variables that predicted earlier removal in multivariate analysis included secondary pleural infection (hazard ratio [HR] 14.19, 95% CI 4.11-48.91), % eosinophils (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05), and connective tissue disease (HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.20-5.57). Variables that predicted delayed removal include pleural effusion above the hilum (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34-0.85), liver failure (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16-0.60), and heart failure (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.20-0.52).

CONCLUSIONS

IPCs are safe in benign effusions. Clinicians should consider numerous factors when predicting the rate of and time to pleurodesis.