Studying Pleural Manometry to Guide Treatment of Malignant Pleural Effusion A Pilot Trial Comparing Outcomes With and Without Pressure Measurement

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether measuring chest pressure during pleural fluid drainage pleural manometry can help improve treatment choices for patients with malignant pleural effusion. This study aims to find out if using pleural manometry leads to better success rates with pleurodesis and helps guide treatment decisions. Participants have cancer with malignant pleural effusion or related conditions confirmed by tests. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives standard care for malignant pleural effusion without pleural manometry, where treatment decisions are based on usual clinical judgment. The other group undergoes pleural manometry during their first fluid drainage procedure. If lung expansion looks good based on pressure measurements, pleurodesis is recommended if the lung cannot expand well, pleurodesis is avoided and a tunneled pleural catheter is advised instead. During the study, success of pleurodesis will be assessed by chest imaging 30 days after hospital discharge. Participants will receive treatments according to their assigned group and be monitored for outcomes. The study will evaluate whether pleural manometry improves treatment success and helps select the best management approach for malignant pleural effusion.

Impact of Pleural Manometry on the Assessment and Treatment of Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Pilot Clinical Trial