[Pleuroperitoneal shunt in recurrent pleural effusion]

Recurrent pleural effusion is often a problem in metastases from breast cancer, and may be treated by instillation of irritating drugs combined with external drainage for some days. Less frequently chylothorax is a complication to malignant disease. Drainage of the pleural effusion to the peritoneum is possible, and this article describes how four patients with metastases from breast carcinoma and one patient with chylothorax caused by malignant lymphoma were all treated successfully from 40 days to ten months by means of a simple siliconated T-shaped drain from the pleural cavity to the peritoneum. In one patient the drain occluded after three months. It does not seem to be necessary to use drains with valves for this purpose.