Talc pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exploring the efficacy and advancements of medical pleurodesis: a comprehensive review of current research

This narrative review aims to provide an overview of medical pleurodesis techniques, and their indications and potential adverse effects. Pleurodesis is a procedure performed with the aim of obliterating the pleural space. It has indications in the management of both malignant and benign pleural effusions and pneumothorax. Various nonsurgical techniques exist to perform pleurodesis. The scope of this work is to review the different nonsurgical techniques and their indications. This narrative review was performed checking scientific databases for medical literature, focusing especially on the data derived from randomised controlled trials. Pleurodesis is an effective method to manage pleural effusions and pneumothorax, and minimally invasive techniques are now frequently used with good results. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of new treatments and the possibility of using different techniques in association.

NCCP-ICS joint consensus-based clinical practice guidelines on medical thoracoscopy

ABSTRACT

Medical Thoracoscopy (MT) is commonly performed by respiratory physicians for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. The aim of the study was to provide evidence-based information regarding all aspects of MT, both as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic aid for pulmonologists across India. The consensus-based guidelines were formulated based on a multistep process using a set of 31 questions. A systematic search of published randomized controlled clinical trials, open labelled studies, case reports and guidelines from electronic databases, like PubMed, EmBase and Cochrane, was performed. The modified grade system was used (1, 2, 3 or usual practice point) to classify the quality of available evidence. Then, a multitude of factors were taken into account, such as volume of evidence, applicability and practicality for implementation to the target population and then strength of recommendation was finalized. MT helps to improve diagnosis and patient management, with reduced risk of post procedure complications. Trainees should perform at least 20 medical thoracoscopy procedures. The diagnostic yield of both rigid and semirigid techniques is comparable. Sterile-graded talc is the ideal agent for chemical pleurodesis. The consensus statement will help pulmonologists to adopt best evidence-based practices during MT for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

[Treatment of malignant effusion]

Malignant effusion complicates more than 15% of all cancers in delayed stages of progression. The most common causes of metastatic pleuritis are lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lymphoproliferative diseases or dissemination of gastrointestinal tumors. Malignant effusion is associated with negative prognosis for overall survival regardless of etiology of tumor, significantly complicates the course of the underlying disease, impairs life quality and complicates treatment. Despite various methods for pleural cavity obliteration in recurrent metastatic pleuritis, there is still no a uniform approach to choosing the optimal treatment strategy. We analyzed the main methods of conservative and surgical treatment of recurrent metastatic pleuritic regarding efficacy, risk of recurrence and reproducibility.

Malignant Pleural Effusions: Updates in Diagnosis and Management

Malignant pleural effusions remain a significant clinical problem resulting in greater than 125,000 hospitalizations per year and leading to over 5 billion dollars in healthcare utilization costs. Not only are health care expenditures related to malignant pleural effusion significant, but malignant pleural effusions also often result in significant patient discomfort and distress, largely at the end of life. Advances in management over the past several years have provided patients with greater autonomy as they are able to provide self-aid at home either alone or with family assistance. Additionally, practice changes have allowed for fewer interventions allowing patients to spend more time out of the clinic or inpatient wards.

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Pleurodesis: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Background and Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a method of pleurodesis in a rabbit model. Pleurodesis with PRP was compared against the gold-standard use of talc. The secondary evaluation assessed the ideal time for achieving pleurodesis. Materials and Methods: 25 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to three groups, as follows: 12 animals in the first and second groups, as well as one animal with no intervention in the final group, which was used as a control. The talc pleurodesis group (baseline) underwent pleurodesis with sterile talc, which is the gold-standard sclerosing agent used for pleurodesis. The PRP group underwent pleurodesis using autologous PRP. The last group had one rabbit with no intervention. A total of 12 rabbits (n = 6 for the talc pleurodesis group and n = 6 for the PRP group) were sacrificed 3 days (72 h) after the intervention, and 12 rabbits (n = 6 for the talc pleurodesis group and n = 6 for the PRP group) were sacrificed 6 days (144 h) after the intervention. In both the talc and PRP group, FBC and CRP were measured before the intervention and in 3 or 6 days afterwards, respectively. The pleura and the lungs were evaluated histopathologically. Results: Macroscopically, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In terms of microscopic findings, there were no statistically significant differences in inflammatory reactions provoked in the visceral and parietal pleura between the PRP and talc. In addition, with talc pleurodesis, a foreign-body reaction was observed in about 50% of the cases, which was not observed with PRP. In terms of inflammation between 3 and 6 days, there were no statistically significant differences with PRP, there was only a statistically significant difference between 3 and 6 days regarding the parietal pleura in the talc group. Conclusions: The instillation of autologous PRP in the pleural cavity shows promise in achieving pleurodesis. The efficacy of PRP as a pleurodesis agent should be examined further.

Treating Recurrent Pleural Disease: A Review of Indications and Technique for Chemical Pleurodesis for the Interventional Radiologist

Pleural space diseases such as recurrent pleural effusion and pneumothorax inflict a significant symptomatic burden on patients. Guidelines and studies are available to guide best practices in the setting of refractory effusions, mostly in the setting of malignancy, and recurrent pneumothorax. Less data is available to guide management of refractory transudative effusions. Recurrent pleural effusions can be treated with tunneled pleural catheters or catheter-based pleurodesis. While refractory transudative effusions can benefit from tunneled pleural catheter, this is an area of ongoing research. Regarding recurrent pneumothorax, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pleurodesis using mechanical or laser/argon beam coagulation is the most effective means of preventing recurrence. Catheter based pleurodesis, a less invasive means of administering chemical sclerosant via percutaneous thoracostomy tube, is only used when surgery is not an option. However, both approaches induce inflammation of the pleural space, resulting in adherence of the parietal and visceral pleura to prevent fluid or air re-accumulation. This article will discuss catheter based chemical pleurodesis geared toward the interventional radiologist, including a review of disease processes and indications, technique, and strategies to mitigate complications as well as a literature review comparing percutaneous chemical pleurodesis to other therapies.

Pleural Resident Macrophages and Pleural IRA B Cells Promote Efficient Immunity Against Pneumonia by Inducing Early Pleural Space Inflammation

Airway infection is a major cause of mortality worldwide. The identification of new mechanisms aiding in effective host immune response is therefore required. Here, we show that the specific depletion of the pleural immune cell compartment during bacterial pneumonia resulted in a reduced pulmonary immune response and increased mortality in mice. Bacterial airway infection provoked early pleural space (PS) inflammation characterized by innate response activator (IRA) B cell development and pleural large resident macrophage (LRM) necroptosis, the repopulation of LRMs being driven by cellular proliferation in situ. Necroptotic LRMs amplified PS inflammation by stimulating pleural Mincle-expressing macrophages whereas IRA B cells contributed partially to GM-CSF-induced PS inflammation. Upon pulmonary infection, the induction of PS inflammation resulted in reduced bacterial burden whereas the specific depletion of pleural resident macrophages led to increased mortality and bacterial burden and reduced pulmonary immunity. Moreover, mice in which B cells were unable to produce GM-CSF exhibited reduced CD103⁺ dendritic cells and reduced CD4⁺ T cell numbers in the draining lymph node. Altogether, our results describe a previously unrecognized mechanism of pleural space inflammation necessary for effective protection against bacterial airway infection.