Journal Club - 2006-03-20

Case:

Initial drainage of malignant pleural effusions:

UpToDate

PIER:

• Guidelines
  • ATS
  • BTS (search for "4.3.1 Size of intercostal tube")

Long term management: initial drainage only only versus drainage with pleurodesis versus chronic indwelling catheter

UpToDate

• Search for "SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS"
• Note new grading system for recommendations (based on GRADE)

PIER

Guidelines

• ATS
• BTS
  • "Intercostal tube drainage without pleurodesis is not recommended because of a high recurrence rate. [B]"
  • Also, search for "4.5 Long term indwelling pleural catheter drainage"