Safety and Utility of Indwelling Pleural Catheters in Lung Transplant Recipients

Trindade AJ, Lentz RJ, Gannon WD, Rickman OB, Shojaee S, Vandervest K, Schwartz G, Li GW, Kumar A, Garcha PS, Seeley EJ, Gesthalter YB, Mueller S, Egan JP 3rd, DeMaio AJ, Yarmus LB, Josan ES, Pannu JK, Wayne MT, DeCardenas JL, Bacchetta MD, Maldonado F; Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group

Clin Transplant. 2023 Oct;37(10):e15056.

What is the key question?

  • To determine the role of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) in lung transplant patients with benign pleural effusions

What is the bottom line?

  • This multicentre retrospective study included 61 patients with median 43 IPC-days
  • IPC-related infections occurred in 8% and 4.9% required IPC-removal, and no other major IPC-related complications
  • Eight-nine percent of the cohort had IPC-removal after achieving auto-pleurodesis

Why read on?

  • To explore limitations and understand considerations of using IPCs in a non-malignant population, including benefits such as avoiding repeat effusion-related procedures and facilitating earlier discharge