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Doxycycline poudrage in pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusion: a novel modality for an old agent

Abstract

Context

Malignant pleural effusion is a common presentation of several malignancies. Chemical pleurodesis is important in its management, but no consensus exists on the optimal agent or methods of pleurodesis.

Aim

This work aimed to evaluate the outcome of oral doxycycline capsules in a poudrage form through a medical thoracoscope as a therapeutic approach for pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusion.

Setting and design

This study was a prospective quasiexperimental one.

Patients and methods

This prospective quasiexperimental study was conducted on 70 patients with metastatic pleural effusion. They underwent pleurodesis with thoracoscopic doxycycline poudrage.

Results

The success of doxycycline powder poudrage was complete in 75.7% of cases and partial in 10% of cases; however, failure was observed in 14.3%. Thus, total success rate was 85.7%. As regards complications, they were irrelevant; pain was the predominant feature in 81.4% of cases, fever in 11.4% of cases, and empyema in only 4.3% of cases.

Conclusion

Using oral doxycycline with thoracoscopic poudrage yielded a remarkable success rate and may alternate the need for talc powder with less complications and more safety.

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Correspondence to Tamer A. Elhadidy.

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Elhadidy, T.A., Abumossalam, A.M. & Elashry, M.S. Doxycycline poudrage in pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusion: a novel modality for an old agent. Egypt J Bronchol 11, 7–10 (2017). https://doi.org/10.4103/1687-8426.199001

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