The effect of colchicine administration on postoperative pleural effusion following lung resection: a randomized blinded placebo-controlled feasibility pilot study.

Objectives: This substudy of the colchicine for prevention of perioperative atrial fibrillation (COP-AF) pilot trial seeks to assess the effect of colchicine administration on the volume of postoperative pleural drainage, duration of chest tube in situ and length of stay following lung resection.

Methods: Between April 2014 and April 2015, 100 patients undergoing lung resection at 2 tertiary care centres participated in a pilot blinded randomized trial comparing perioperative twice daily 0.6 mg of colchicine orally (n = 49) or placebo (n = 51) twice daily for 10 days.