Transcatheter instillation of urokinase into loculated pleural effusion: analysis of treatment effect.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of intracavitary instillation of urokinase in the treatment of loculated pleural effusion.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We analyzed CT and sonographic scans of 31 patients with loculated pleural effusion treated with intracavitary urokinase. When the drainage was less than 100 ml/day, urokinase was instilled through the catheter until the drainage was less than 50 ml/day. Response to the treatment was assessed on follow-up chest radiographs and classified into three groups: completely effective (lung expansion > 80%), partially effective (20-80%), and ineffective (< 20%). The sonographic pattern of pleural fluid was classified as anechoic, linear septated, or honeycomb, and the thickness of the parietal pleura was measured on CT scans.

RESULTS

Of the 16 patients in whom treatment was completely effective, sonography showed an anechoic appearance in 12 and a linear septated appearance in four, and the thickness of the parietal pleura on CT scans was 2 mm in six, 3 mm in seven, and 4 mm in three. Of the nine patients in whom treatment was partially effective, sonography showed an anechoic appearance in six and a linear septated appearance in three, and the thickness of the parietal pleura on CT scans was 3 mm in five and 4 mm in four. Of the six patients in whom treatment was ineffective, sonography showed a linear septated appearance in one and a honeycomb appearance in five, and the thickness of the parietal pleura on CT scans was 3 mm in one, 4 mm in two, 5 mm in one, and 6 mm in two.

CONCLUSION

Urokinase instillation through a percutaneous catheter was effective in the treatment of loculated pleural effusion in most patients but was not effective in patients whose pleural fluid had a honeycomb appearance on sonography or whose parietal pleura had a thickness of more than 5 mm on CT scans.