Outcome of Ultrasound-Guided Small-Bore Catheter Drainage in Exudative Pleural Effusions
Nantaka Kiranantawat MD*, Jitpreedee Sungsiri MD**, Sarayut L Geater MD***
Affiliation : * Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand ** Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand *** Division of Respiratory and Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Department of InternalMedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
Objective : To evaluate the outcome and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage of exudative pleural
effusion.
Material and Method: The present study was a retrospective analysis of 412 pleural effusions from 373 patients that
underwent ultrasound-guided small-bore catheter drainage in exudative pleural effusions between 2004 and 2009.
Results : The two most common causes for drainage were parapneumonic effusion or empyema (52.2%) and malignant
effusion (30.3%), while the remains were trauma, iatrogenic, and others. Overall clinical success rate was 76.5%. The
success rate was lower among malignant pleural effusion (p = 0.003). Causes of effusion were the only independent predictors
related to success. Only five (1.2%) patients developed complication during the procedure. Seventy-five of 412 effusions
(15.8%) developed complication during the period of drainage; the majority were drain blockage (9%) and accidental
dislodgment (4.1%)
Conclusion : Ultrasound-guided small-bore catheter drainage was a safe and efficient procedure for exudative pleural
effusions.
Keywords : Pleural effusion, Small-bore catheter, Outcome, Chest drain
