Background: Despite advances in the treatment of pleural infection, up to 20% of patients die. So far, studies assessing the role of intrapleural saline lavage for the management of all stage pleural infections are very scarce, usually excluding patients with cancer.
Methods: The method used was a retrospective cohort study including pleural empyema managed with a pleural lavage of saline solution through a small-bore chest tube. The primary outcome was the rate of failure at 3 months (surgical referral or additional pleural manoeuver due to recurrent infection or all-cause mortality). Secondary outcomes were hospital stay, the change of the chest radiograph and inflammatory biomarkers, and complications.
Results: Thirty patients with pleural empyema were included, 11 (36.7%) with an active cancer. The overall rate of failure at 3 months was 13.3% (surgical referral = 0; additional pleural manoeuver = 3; mortality = 1). Median length of pleural lavage and hospital stay were, respectively, 14 days (7-28) and 17 days (11-42). Inflammatory markers and size of the effusion on chest radiograph significantly decreased for Day 0 to Day 14. No chest tube blockade was reported, but seven (23.3%) accidentally withdrew. No other side effects were reported.
Conclusions: Intrapleural saline lavage is efficient and safe for the management of pleural empyema, even in severe status patients with cancer, at the cost of a prolonged hospitalization.
Keywords: chest tube; empyema; pleural infection; saline solution; thoracic ultrasound.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.