[Wedge resection and thermal cautery for malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer under vats].

Objective: To discuss the treatment effect of wedge resection and thermal cautery of pleura for patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) caused by lung cancer under VATS.

Methods: 37 patients with MPE underwent wedge resection and thermal cautery of pleura under VATS, from June 2005 to December 2008. Postoperative tumor markers level was contrasted with the preoperative, and the control rate of pleural effusion and survival rate of the patients were compared with control group, including 25 patients undergoing intrapleural chemotherapeutics in the same period.

Result: In the group, the control rate of pleural effusion was 100%, but 60% in control group (P = 0.005). The 1-year survival rate of the group and the control group was 78.38% and 60% respectively (P = 0.003). CEA and CA-125 were descended obviously in postoperative day 7 in the group(P = 0.002);in control group, there were no significant change of CEA and CA125 after treatment (P = 0.797).

Conclusion: Wedge resection and thermal cautery of pleura under VATS can reduce tumor burden of patients with MPE to the maximum, and control MPE effectively and improve the quality of life for lung cancer patients with MPE.