Pleurx catheter?

[Natsmb]

I had a pleurodesis just under 3 months ago. It hasn't worked as I had hoped. I am not sure if I am a candidate for a pleurx catheter as it seems the fluid buildup in my lungs is slow, at least for the time being. I noticed that the fluid build up rapidly increases every third treatment after I have a thoracentesis to drain it.

I will be chatting with my cardiothoracic doc next week. Those of you who have had a pleurx catheter, can you tell me a little bit about the procedure, the convenience or inconvenience of having a catheter, how it will impact my day-to-day life etc? I have a feeling this is where it's going next. The only other alternative is regular thoracentesis and just blast thoracentesis had me in a lot of pain and exhausted and quite a lot of coughing for the past 4 days.

[Lyndy]

Hello, I don’t have experience of the catheter but interested in your treatment... I am set for my second lung drain in 2 weeks today. Apparently my hospital no longer use pleurodesis... not sure why. But I understand that getting any drain in the right spot is crucial if it is to be effective. I would be interested to know where they go next for you xx

[Natsmb in reply to Lyndy]

I'll keep you posted. I've been dealing with a pleural effusion in this particular long for 9 months now. I wasn't filling up fast enough at the time for the recommendation to be a pleurx catheter. It was turning out to be about 1.1 liters of fluid every 6 or 7 weeks. In the interim, I got severely uncomfortable because having that much fluid, as you probably know, sitting on your lungs puts a lot of pressure in your chest cavity and makes me very very very tired.

I was quite surprised they drew 1.1 liters out again this last time. I was thinking with the pleurodesis that things would be improved but it's apparent it didn't work.I haven't talked to my doctor yet about why he thinks it didn't do what it was supposed to do. I wouldn't do it again. It was very, very painful. I mean- it was a VERY painful procedure in it took a long time to recover.

Anyway, after I talk to him, I will fill you in. My understanding is that they don't like to do pleurx catheter unless you're fluid build up is at a certain.

[Shorty864]

Dear Natsmb, I am not sure if you are talking about the same thing - I had a pleurex drain put in about the middle of April and after a lot of problems with leakage they decided to remove it as it had give me sepsis. I will not be given another fixed one. I will be going to be drained again next week, not the nicest of things but neither is a stomach full of ascites. All the very best. Anne XXX

[Natsmb in reply to Shorty864]

Thank you. Was the pleurex an overnight stay in the hospital or an out procedure? Also, how comfortable was the tube? Did it hurt? I am looking at a pleurex catheter for draining my lung but I assume they are relatively the same idea.

[Shorty864 in reply to Natsmb]

The one I had put in my lung was during the day and I did not suffer very much, a bit of discomfort putting it in but it certainly did not bother me at all otherwise. It certainly was easier way to be drained on a regular basis. All the best. Anne XXX

[Kakabud]

I would advise that the procedure plurix drain be done under full sedation. My mother had one put in a few years ago and done under General annistetic. We would not advise this as she was awake during the procedure abdcfelt very uncomfortable. It did work to help drain the fluid. A few family members trained how to do this. Best of luck.

[Natsmb]

Thank you very much for the suggestion. I think I will go with it.