Catheter review suggests a possible option for selected chronic pleural infections
Reports describe infection control and symptom improvement in patients unsuitable for surgery, but mostly observational evidence leaves comparative benefits uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Tunneled pleural catheters were associated with infection control in many reported cases involving patients unsuitable for surgery. The review suggests a possible role for carefully selected patients with persistent infection and a lung that cannot fully re-expand. Because the evidence was mainly observational, it does not establish comparative effectiveness or reliably quantify the expected benefit for an individual patient.
The abstract combines small reports with larger studies, without giving study-by-study populations or a clear comparator. Its most favorable resolution rates came from selected cohorts, and the authors describe the evidence as limited.
Who the review concerned
The review focused on people considered unsuitable for surgery, including those whose lung could not fully re-expand. Reports covered infection outcomes, symptoms, imaging changes and complications, with follow-up varying across the included studies.
Benefits and harms need context
The largest study also reported catheter-associated infections and infection-related deaths. Favorable resolution results came from selected cohorts; without a clear comparator or common follow-up, the abstract cannot establish a dependable estimate of benefits and harms.
The original publication
Minimally invasive management of chronic pleural empyema in non-expandable lung: a systematic review of tunneled pleural catheter use as a surgical alternative.
Yayan J, Rasche K, Krüger M et al.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41746421
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.