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Multicentre Study Comparing Indwelling Pleural Catheter With Talc Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusion Management

Not Applicable
Conditions
Pleural Effusion, Malignant
Interventions
Procedure: Talc Pleurodesis
Device: Indwelling Pleural Catheter
Registration Number
NCT02045121
Lead Sponsor
National University Hospital, Singapore
Brief Summary

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) accounts for 50% of all pleural effusions and affects about 300,000 patients annually (UK and USA). Lung and breast cancers account for majority of malignant pleural effusions; 1 in 3 breast cancer, 1 in 4 lung cancer as well as \> 90% of patients with mesothelioma develop pleural effusions. Breathlessness from MPE is disabling and impairs quality of life. Median survival ranges between 4-6 months. Although thoracentesis provides effective symptom relief, most effusions recur and pleurodesis is the standard of care. Pleurodesis can be performed via chest tube or applied during pleuroscopy, and talc is the most effective agent. For successful pleurodesis to occur the underlying lung must expand after fluid drainage and trapped lung due to metastatic disease occurs up to 30%. Symptomatic patients require hospitalization for these procedures which are likely to fail if trapped lungs are encountered, and pose significant burden to health services. Tunneled indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is emerging as a viable alternative which provides access to the pleural space for fluid drainage when breathlessness arise. IPC can be performed at ambulatory setting without hospital admission. Case series have demonstrated long-term safety of IPC even in patients undergoing chemotherapy with acceptable complication rates. By keeping the pleural cavity free of fluid, IPC has led to spontaneous pleurodesis in 50% of patients, which allows its removal. Presently IPC is indicated for trapped lung or when talc pleurodesis has failed. A randomised comparative trial with talc pleurodesis is necessary to determine role of IPC as first-line therapy of MPE, if IPC leads to reduction in hospitalizations, adverse events and healthcare costs, and if it improves quality of life. The multicenter trial randomizes symptomatic patients 1:1 to IPC or talc pleurodesis, and endpoints include hospitalization days till death or end of study, adverse events, quality of life, and healthcare costs.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • Symptomatic malignant pleural effusion requiring intervention
Exclusion Criteria
  • <18 years of age
  • pregnant or lactating patients
  • expected survival <3 months
  • chylothorax
  • previous attempted pleurodesis
  • pleural infection
  • leukocytopaenia (<1.0 x 10^9/L)
  • uncorrectable bleeding diathesis
  • inability to give informed consent or comply with the protocol

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Talc PleurodesisTalc PleurodesisHospital admission for chest drain insertion and suction if needed, plus talc pleurodesis by slurry or poudrage if \>75% of visceral and parietal pleura in direct contact on chest x-ray.
Indwelling Pleural CatheterIndwelling Pleural CatheterDay-case IPC insertion. Attendance d10 for drainage, stitch removal and education in catheter care.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of hospital days for all causes following interventionUp to 1 year
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of adverse eventsUp to 1 year
Breathlessness scoreUp to 1 year
Self-reported quality of life scoresUp to 1 year
Number of hospital days computed for pleural effusion related causeUp to 1 year
Health costs computationUp to 1 year

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National University Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

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