Roukema J A, Lobach H J, van der Werken C
Department of Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Cancer. 1990 Aug 15;66(4):675-6. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19900815)66:4<675::aid-cncr2820660413>3.0.co;2-3.
If conventional therapy fails in patients with intractable malignant pleural effusion, the pleuroperitoneal shunt is a valuable alternative. In a 59-year-old man with disabling malignant pleural effusion, massive ascites developed shortly after insertion of a pleuroperitoneal shunt. This shunt was replaced by a pleurovenous shunt. The ascites disappeared, and pleural effusion did not recur. The patient died 6 months later.