Actively Recruiting
Chest Drain Regular Flushing in Complicated Parapneumonic Effusions and Empyemas
Led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Updated on 2026-02-20
96
Participants Needed
5
Research Sites
131 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Infections of the pleural space are common, and patients require antibiotics and chest drain placement to evacuate the chest from the infected fluid. Chest drains can get blocked by the drainage fluid and material. For this reason, it is thought that flushing the chest drain with saline solution, can help maintain the patency of the tube. This proposed study will evaluate the impact of regular chest drain flushing on the length of time to chest tube removal and total hospitalization as well as improvement in chest imaging and the need for additional interventions on the infected space.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Chest Drain Regular Flushing in Complicated Parapneumonic Effusions and Empyemas
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Patients with complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema requiring chest tube placement as standard care for inpatient management of pleural infection with or without intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease therapy
- Age greater than 18 years old
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients with surgical tubes that cannot accommodate a three-way stopcock
- Any disease or condition that interferes with safe study completion
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Inability to undergo a chest X-ray
- Chest tube expected to be placed for less than 24 hours
- Patients with an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 5 locations
1
Henry Ford
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States, 48310
Actively Recruiting
2
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68124
Actively Recruiting
3
Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States, 10029
Actively Recruiting
4
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37203
Actively Recruiting
5
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Samira Shojaee, MD, MPH
CONTACT
J
Jennifer Duke, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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