Role of transthoracic US scores in evaluating efficacy of pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion patients

Abstract

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is prevalent, and the number of patients will likely keep rising due to factors including improved long-term survival in instances with metastatic cancer. Aim: was to evaluate the role of transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) scores in evaluating the success or failure of pleurodesis whether surgically or chemically in patients with MPE. Methods: This prospective interventional randomized study was carried out on 30 patients with MPE at the Chest Department, Tanta University Hospitals. The patients were randomly separated into two equal groups; group I: surgical pleurodesis was performed by mechanical irritation of the parietal pleura via thoracoscope and group П: chemical pleurodesis was performed using Iodopovidine. Results: Regarding pleural thickness by TUS after the procedure, there was significant increase in both studied groups with higher significance in group II compared to group I (t= -2.201, P=0.036). Regarding lung sliding score by TUS after the procedure, there was significant decrease in both studied groups with lower significance in group II compared with group I (t= 2.235, P=0.034). Regarding pleural adherence score by TUS after the procedure, it was significantly higher in group II (t= -3.607, P=0.001). Conclusions: Pleurodesis improves quality of life, making it an excellent palliative choice for the therapy of MPE. Chemical pleurodesis has the advantage over mechanical pleurodesis as a palliative therapy in patients with recurrent malignant effusion.