[Complex endoscopy-assisted treatment for pleural malignancies with concomitant exudative pleuritis]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Palliative Care

Context:

• Malignant pleural effusions present a significant challenge in cancer care, often leading to debilitating symptoms.
• Current treatments for malignant pleural effusions can be invasive and may not fully address associated complications like protein loss and inflammation.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a complex treatment protocol for managing malignant pleural effusions.
• To assess the impact of argon-plasma electrocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermal intrapleural chemoperfusion on effusion control and patient symptoms.

Summary:

• A combined therapeutic approach involving argon-plasma electrocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermal intrapleural chemoperfusion was employed for complex pleural malignancies with effusions.
• The treatment successfully achieved cytoreduction and abatement of effusion, protein loss, inflammation, intoxication, and pain syndrome.
• All eight patients demonstrated stable effusion abatement, improved homeostatic indices, enhanced breathing function, and reduced pain and intoxication, with no need for emergency repeat interventions or pleural punctures.

Impact:

• This complex treatment offers a promising, minimally invasive option for managing malignant pleural effusions, improving quality of life for patients.
• The study highlights the potential of combining cytoreductive and therapeutic modalities for comprehensive symptom management in advanced cancer.
• The findings suggest a significant reduction in the need for repeated invasive procedures, optimizing patient care pathways.