[Intracavitary treatment of malignant pleural effusion with iodine-povidone]

The authors present 15 patients with proven malignant pleural effusion who underwent pleurodesis with Povidone. They obtained a complete response in 100% of the cases. The average duration of the response was 23.3 weeks ranging from 3 to 83 weeks. Seven patients are alive and on follow up with an average response time of 30 weeks. Six patients are dead, with an average response time of fifteen weeks. We don't know the late results in 2 patients after the control (4 weeks after treatment). The pleural tube remained in place from 2 to 8 days. There were no untoward or colateral effects in these patients. The cost of the Povidone utilized was B/0.40 per patient. The cost, the efficacy and the absence of ill effects make Povidone the agent of choice in the palliative treatment of malignant pleural effusion.