Impact of patient positioning on the efficacy and safety of doxycycline pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion: a pilot randomized trial.

In 30 seconds

This pilot randomized trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of doxycycline pleurodesis in 40 patients with malignant pleural effusion, comparing a standard rotation protocol to a non-rotation approach. Both groups achieved identical pleurodesis success rates of 85% at one month (P > 0.99), suggesting that patient rotation may not be necessary for effective treatment.

Key findings

• Pleurodesis success rates were 85% in both rotation and non-rotation groups.
• Ultrasound-derived Pleural Adherence Scores were comparable: Mean 20.0 vs. 21.2 (P = 0.33).
• No significant differences in pain scores, drainage duration, or complication rates were observed.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that omitting patient rotation during doxycycline pleurodesis may simplify the procedure without compromising efficacy or safety, potentially reducing patient discomfort and resource use.