TITLE:
Factors Associated with Need for Drainage of Pleural Effusion after Diaphragm Surgery
AUTHORS:
Rachel M. Whynott, Nauman Khurshid, Seema Nayak, Kelly J. Manahan, John P. Geisler
KEYWORDS:
Pleural Drainage, Diaphragm Surgery, Ovarian Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.5 No.7,
June
19,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Diaphragm
surgery is common with advanced ovarian malignancies. The purpose of this study
is to determine associated factors with the need for drainage of pleural
effusion after diaphragm surgery. Methods and Materials: A retrospective chart
review was undertaken in all women undergoing debulking surgery for stage
IIIc/IV ovarian cancer from 2007-2009. Results: One hundred and eight patients
were found to be eligible for the study, but 73 were the primary focus of this
paper due to having undergone debulking surgery, including diaphragmatic
surgery, from 2007-2009. All 73 had ablation with the argon beam coagulator, 7
had a full thickness resection, and 7 had extensive peritoneal peel. Five
patients had preoperative effusions. Only 7 patients required chest drainage
postoperatively. Pre-operative ascites correlated closely with postoperative
effusion (p-value = 0.031) but not with drainage (p-value = 0.068). The mean
age of patients requiring drainage was significantly older (73 years) than that
of patients who did not require drainage (60 years) (p-value = 0.002).
Conclusion: Older patients undergoing diaphragm surgery are more likely to require
chest tube or thoracentesis due to concurrent symptoms. Pre-operative ascites
correlates closely with the development of postoperative effusion after
diaphragm surgery.