Randomised trial of indwelling pleural catheters for refractory transudative pleural effusions.

Objective: Refractory symptomatic transudative pleural effusions are an indication for pleural drainage. There has been supportive observational evidence for the use of indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) for transudative effusions, but no randomised trials. We aimed to investigate the effect of IPCs on breathlessness in patients with transudative pleural effusions when compared with standard care.

Prospective validation of the RAPID clinical risk prediction score in adult patients with pleural infection: the PILOT study.

Background: Over 30% of adult patients with pleural infection either die and/or require surgery. There is no robust means of predicting at baseline presentation which patients will suffer a poor clinical outcome. A validated risk prediction score would allow early identification of high-risk patients, potentially directing more aggressive treatment thereafter.

Outpatient Talc Administration by Indwelling Pleural Catheter for Malignant Effusion.

Background: Malignant pleural effusion affects more than 750,000 persons each year across Europe and the United States. Pleurodesis with the administration of talc in hospitalized patients is the most common treatment, but indwelling pleural catheters placed for drainage offer an ambulatory alternative. We examined whether talc administered through an indwelling pleural catheter was more effective at inducing pleurodesis than the use of an indwelling pleural catheter alone.

Effect of an indwelling pleural catheter vs chest tube and talc pleurodesis for relieving dyspnea in patients with malignant pleural effusion: the TIME2 randomized controlled trial.

Context: Malignant pleural effusion causes disabling dyspnea in patients with a short life expectancy. Palliation is achieved by fluid drainage, but the most effective first-line method has not been determined.

Objective: To determine whether indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are more effective than chest tube and talc slurry pleurodesis (talc) at relieving dyspnea.

Intralesional bleomycin injection treatment for vascular birthmarks: a 5-year experience at a single United Kingdom unit.

Background: The authors present their experience using an established chemotherapeutic agent as a scarless treatment for vascular birthmarks. One hundred sixty-four of more than 600 patients seen in the authors' center received intralesional bleomycin injection over 5 years.

Methods: Patient demographics, clinical response, treatment, and complication details were recorded prospectively.