Short term results after tetracycline pleurodesis in recurrent pneumothorax and malignant pleural effusion

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic Tetracycline pleurodesis was performed in twenty-nine patients, including Twelve men and seventeen women, the aim of this pro spective study was to determine the Cure or success rate of pleurodesis for recurrent pneumothorax and malignant pleural effusion with tetracycline. From 1995 to 1999, twenty-nine patients were enrolled; eighteen were with malignant pleural effusion and eleven with pneumothorax. Pleurodesis was induced by instillation of tetracycline through Pleural drain. Followup period was from six months to forty months, with mean of fifteen months. Follow up rates were ninety-four percents. Three patients required repeated pleurodesis