Ways to overcome non-draining indwelling pleural catheter in malignant pleural effusion
- Author:
Mohamed Faisal Abdul Hamid
1
;
Boon Hau Ng
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(6):555-557
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: The indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is a 16-Fr-multifenestrated catheter. It has become an accepted practice in the management of malignant pleural effusion, especially in patients with non-expandable lung. However, IPC blockage or not draining is common. A 53-year-old female with malignant pleural effusion presented to us with blocked IPC and symptomatic pleural loculation one month after IPC insertion. After failing saline flushing and low-pressure wall suction, intrapleural alteplase was instituted through the IPC with a favourable outcome, and she continued to drain daily thereafter. The present case highlights the safety of intrapleural alteplase via IPC in the non-expandable lung.
