Thoracoscopic chemically induced pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion as a model of general and local inflammatory reaction
Abstract
Continuous formation of malignant pleural effusions causes metabolic and mineral disruption. Large effusions gradually compress the lung parenchyma.
The result is an increasing shortness of breath. Prolonged compression of pulmonary parenchyma also causes atelaktasis which may then cause an inflammatory process of the lung parenchyma.
An effective method of palliative treatment is a chemical pleurodesis, which is used in selected patients as a second line of palliative cancer treatment. The principle is to eliminate the space between the visceral and parietal sheets of pleura by inducing aseptic inflammation.
The most effective way of application of chemicals is via videothoracoscopy. The advantage is the possibility of drainage of pleural cavity and application of talc powder.
Pleurodesis has been used for many years, but there is a lack of objective assessment of the overall and local inflammatory reactions, by which the body responds to foreign substances.