Prospective Data Collection on Clinical, Radiological and Patient Reported Outcomes After Pleural Intervention

PROSPECT is a prospective, observational study in which complications and key other data will be collected from patients undergoing pleural procedures. Data will include demographics, smoking history, pre-procedure observations, radiological findings and medical history along with information about the size of the service and range of procedures performed. Complications will be objectively defined, with baseline procedure information recorded, and at 1 month, all complications recorded according to specified criteria.

At least 20 centres will be approached to collect prospective data on pleural interventions and outcomes for patients who have undergone procedures in their service. All patients who have a pleural procedure for fluid will have an ultrasound as part of the procedure but due to a difference in expertise around the country, centres (and clinicians within each centre) will record ultrasound findings in varying degrees of detail. Centres will specify what level of detail they can provide and can opt to perform a more detailed assessment if skills permit and the patient agrees. Any patient can be included in the sub-study if there is sufficient time and sufficient expertise of the clinicians to perform and interpret the more detail scanning procedures.

Patients, who are willing, will also be asked to complete a visual analogue scale score for chest pain and breathlessness before and after their procedure and at a further time interval within 4 weeks. Any patients who are having an indwelling catheter inserted, or chest drain inserted for pleurodesis will be asked to complete an additional questionnaire.

The majority of centres will be those with an active pleural service and will include a combination of district general and tertiary referral centres. The data is likely to represent best practice but should also include the complex cases and interventions. In the future, the study is extendable to non-specialist centres to achieve similar reporting standards, mirroring current standards in other areas such as surgery. The data collected will provide a "best practice standard" against which new and smaller volume centres can benchmark practice, to ensure patient safety.