Ponn R B, Blancaflor J, D'Agostino R S, Kiernan M E, Toole A L, Stern H
Department of Surgery, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1991 Apr;51(4):605-9. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(91)90319-l.
Pleuroperitoneal shunts were implanted in 17 patients with intractable pleural effusions, 15 of which were malignant and 2 benign. Complicating factors included 13 instances of severe trapped lung and 3 cases of synchronous ascites. There was one hospital death. Palliation of dyspnea at rest was achieved in all patients, although 3 required oxygen with exertion. Four shunts became occluded between 1 and 10 months after placement. Two of these were replaced. The remaining conduits continued to function to the present or until the patients' deaths between 1 and 28 months. Shunting allowed hospital discharge and provided symptomatic relief in a group of patients in whom other approaches had failed or were not applicable.
