Efficacy of a Fully Implantable Pleural Device in the Management of Complex Pleural Effusions

VATS talc poudrage, the standard treatment for recurrent pleural effusion, may not be applicable in some complex patients. In these cases, the aim should be to offer long-term symptoms reliefs and reduce hospitalization through procedures with minimal complications, such as the use of an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC). The most used IPC worldwide presents various criticalities mainly related to the external distal portion that allows the fluid drainage. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a fully implantable pleural catheter in managing recurrent pleural effusion in patients unfit for traditional treatments. A retrospective, single-center analysis was conducted from April 2018 to August 2024, involving 150 patients that underwent Celsite® DRAINAPORT implantation. The study measured the percentage of procedure’s complication, type of follow up, six months survival, cause of death and number of oncological treatments administered after implantation. Results indicated a complication rate of 12%, mostly mild and manageable. Over half of the patients were successfully managed by home nursing services. Nearly 50% of the patients survived after six months, whereas 22% received subsequent oncological treatments. This suggests that this type of device is a safe and effective alternative for managing recurrent pleural effusion in patients with limited treatment options.