Lancet
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Multicenter Study
Safety of pleurodesis with talc poudrage in malignant pleural effusion: a prospective cohort study.
Talc is the most effective chemical pleurodesis agent for patients with malignant pleural effusion. However, concerns have arisen about the safety of intrapleural application of talc, after reports of development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in 1-9% of treated patients. Our aim was to establish whether use of large-particle-size talc is safe in patients with malignant pleural effusion. ⋯ Use of large-particle talc for pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion is safe, and not associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome.