Indwelling pleural catheters for non-malignant effusions: a multicentre review of practice.

Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are commonly used in the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). There is little data on their use in non-malignant conditions. All IPC insertions for non-malignant cases from five large UK centres were found using prospectively maintained databases.

Management of malignant pleural effusion associated with trapped lung syndrome.

Management of recurrent malignant pleural effusion associated with trapped lung syndrome remains problematic. An alternative treatment using a pleural catheter has been advocated. Between August 1999 and August 2002, 127 patients underwent thoracoscopy for malignant pleural effusion.

Transgastric drainage of the oesophagus: managing difficult oesophageal injuries.

We describe a technique for maintaining patency of the injured or repaired oesophagus while providing vacuum drainage of the oesophageal lumen. A small midline laparotomy is performed. A lubricated 36F soft chest drain (pull-through end) is introduced into the oesophagus using a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) set, and pulled out through the stomach wall.