MedPath

Thoracentesis: Symptoms and Prediction of the Need for Therapeutic Thoracentesis

Completed
Conditions
Dyspnea
Patient Reported Outcomes
Diaphragm Movement
Pleural Effusion
Ultrasound
Interventions
Other: Assesment of diaphragm shape and diaphragm movement (by M-mode and the AREA-method) by ultrasound before and after thoracentesis
Registration Number
NCT04236934
Lead Sponsor
Naestved Hospital
Brief Summary

Recurrent fluid surrounding the lungs is associated with poor quality of life, the main symptom being dyspnea. These patients are in need of recurrent removal of the fluid using drainage. The mechanism causing dyspnea is not fully understood.

By using ultrasound to evaluate the movement of the diaphragm before and after removal of fluid and the patients symptoms before removal of fluid and until next removal the research group aims to clarify the temporal development in symptoms and the role of the diaphragm.

The researchers will also evaluate the ability of the pulmonologist and patient to predict when the patient will need the next removal of fluid in patients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion.

Detailed Description

Recurrent pleural effusion (PE) is associated with impaired quality of life, the main symptom being dyspnea. The mechanisms causing dyspnea in PE is not fully understood. These patients are in need of recurrent therapeutic thoracentesis.

By evaluating the movement of diaphragma before and after thoracentesis and measure the patients symptoms before thoracentesis and until the next thoracentesis the researchers aim to clarify the temporal development in symptoms and the role of the diaphragm.

The researchers will also evaluate the ability of the pulmonologist and patient to predict when the patient will need the next therapeutic thoracentesis in patients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
107
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Unilateral pleural effusion.
  • A minimum of two thoracentesis prior to inclusion.
  • Patients must be able to give informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Bilateral pleural effusions.
  • Inability to understand written or spoken Danish.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
All included patientsAssesment of diaphragm shape and diaphragm movement (by M-mode and the AREA-method) by ultrasound before and after thoracentesisPatients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Difference between time to next thoracentesis scheduled by the pulmonologist and patient respectively versus time to patient-reported need for thoracentesisAt the day of the next thoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

Measured in days. The patients and pulmonologists scheduling is recorded on a questionnaire at the day of first thoracentesis, after the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fluid removed at the second study-thoracentesisAt the day of the the second thoracentesis, immediately after end procedure

measured in mL.

Patients experienced well beingAt day 1 immediately prior to and immediately after thoracentesis

Symptoms measured by ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, contains visual analogue scales measuring tiredness, pain, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, dyspnea, depression, anxiety, and general well being, scale 0-10, 0 being no symptoms, 10 being the worse symptoms)

Patients perception of dyspneaAt day 1 immediately prior to and immediately after thoracentesis.

Symptoms measured by MRC (Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale, scale1-5, 1 being the least dyspnea, 5 being the worse dyspnea)

Correlation between amount of pleural fluid removed at the first study-thoracentesis (outcome 6) and symptoms (well being and dyspnea, outcome 4 and 5) until next thoracentesis.At the day of the next thoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

amount of fluid measured in mL.

Patient experienced dyspnea until next thoracentesisAt the day of the next thoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

Measured in a daily diary completed at the same time slot every day by Measured in a daily diary completed at the same time slot every day by MRC (Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale, scale1-5, 1 being the least dyspnea, 5 being the worse dyspnea)

Patient experienced well being until next thoracentesisAt the day of the next thoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

Measured in a daily diary completed at the same time slot every day by ESAS Symptoms measured by ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, contains visual analogue scales measuring tiredness, pain, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, dyspnea, depression, anxiety, and general well being, scale 0-10, 0 being no symptoms, 10 being the worse symptoms)

Correlation between well being and dyspnea (outcome 2, 3 and 4) and findings on lung ultrasound before and after completed thoracentesisAt day 1 immediately after ended procedure

Diaphragmatic movement (measured by M-mode and "The Area method", diaphragmatic shape (convex, flat, concave) and Septae-score)

Fluid removed at the first study-thoracentesisAt day 1, immediately after end of procedure

measured in mL.

Correlation between patient's symptoms (well being and dyspnea, outcome 4, 5and 6) and time to next thoracentesisAt the day of the next thoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

Time measured in days

Correlation between time in between thoracentesis and amount of fluid drained at the following thoracentesisthoracentesis or 2 months after the first study-thoracentesis, whichever comes first.

Time measured in days and amount of fluid measured in mL

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde

🇩🇰

Roskilde, Zealand, Denmark

Næstved Sygehus, department of pulmonary medicine

🇩🇰

Næstved, Region Sjælland, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath