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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016; 64(03): 263-265
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1396658
Short Communication
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Intrapleural Epinephrine Irrigation for Massive Malignant Hemothorax

Pei-Ming Huang
1   Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Nai-Kuan Chou
1   Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Tzu-Hsin Lin
2   Department of Traumatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Chiung-Nien Chen
1   Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

12 July 2014

20 October 2014

Publication Date:
17 December 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Massive malignant hemothorax (MMH) is a rare and serious complication encountered in the field of oncology and can be life threatening. It is often difficult and complex to manage. Herein, we present cases of four patients who had MMH and in whom a hemothorax was successfully stopped via continuous intrapleural irrigation with epinephrine (5-mg epinephrine/1,000-mL normal saline, infused at 100 mL/h) instead of a conventional surgical approach. Although no patient deaths were attributed to intractable bleeding, two deaths were related to multiple organ failure. Despite the limited number of cases, this method was a convenient, effective, and inexpensive alternative to open surgical or thoracoscopic drainage for MMH.

Keywords

intrapleural treatment - hemothorax - malignancy
 

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