[Indwelling catheter for the management of malign pleural effusions].

Symptomatic malignant pleural effusions are most commonly managed by chemical pleurodesis. The primary disadvantage of chemical pleurodesis is that it requires hospitalization for approximately five days. An alternative to chemical pleurodesis is insertion of an indwelling catheter, which can be applied easily on an outpatient basis. Pleural fluid is drained at 24 to 48 hour intervals by inserting an external line connected to a vacuum container. In the present time, indwelling catheters are viable alternatives for the management of symptomatic malignant pleural effusions especially when length of hospitalization is to be kept to a minimum, and expertise and facilities exist outpatient management of these catheters.