Role of transthoracic ultrasound scores in the evaluation of efficacy of pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion patients

Background
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is prevalent, and the number of patients will likely keep rising due to factors including ageing patients and improved long-term survival in instances with metastatic cancer. This work aimed to evaluate the role of transthoracic ultrasound scores in evaluating the success or failure of pleurodesis whether surgically or chemically in patients with MPE.


Patients and methods
This prospective interventional randomized study included 30 patients with MPE at the Chest Department, Tanta University Hospitals. The patients were randomly separated into two equal groups; group I where surgical pleurodesis was performed by mechanical irritation of the parietal pleura via thoracoscope and group П where pleurodesis was performed chemically using Iodopovidine.


Results

Regarding pleural thickness by lung ultrasound (LUS) after the procedure, there was a significant increase in both studied groups with higher significance in group II compared with group I (t= –2.201,
P
=0.036). Regarding lung sliding score by LUS after the procedure, there was a significant decrease in both studied groups with higher significance in group II compared with group I (t=2.235,
P
=0.034). Regarding pleural adherence score by LUS after the procedure, it was significantly higher in group II (t=−3.607,
P
=0.001).



Conclusions
Thoracic ultrasonography is a simple and effective method to evaluate the success or failure of pleurodesis.