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Published on: April 7, 2021
Respiratory failure following talc pleurodesis
D H Rehse1, R W Aye, M G Florence
1Department of Surgery, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
American Journal of Surgery
|June 12, 1999
Summary
Talc pleurodesis, a common procedure, showed a high rate of serious complications, including adult respiratory distress syndrome, in a recent institutional review. These findings question the overall safety of talc pleurodesis.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Sterile talc is the standard agent for pleurodesis.
- Talc pleurodesis is generally considered safe and effective.
- A recent case of severe pneumonitis prompted a safety review.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the safety and complication rates of talc pleurodesis.
- To identify potential risk factors for adverse events.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients undergoing talc pleurodesis (December 1993 - December 1997).
- Documentation of respiratory and other complications.
- Statistical analysis using Student's t test and Pearson correlations.
Main Results:
- Eighty-nine procedures were performed on 78 patients.
- 33% of patients experienced respiratory complications or death.
- 9% developed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- No significant differences in outcomes based on patient groups, application methods, or talc dosages were found.
Conclusions:
- This study revealed a higher rate of serious complications than previously reported.
- The exact reasons for these adverse outcomes remain unclear.
- The safety of talc pleurodesis is called into question by these findings.
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