Pleurodesis: Before Your Procedure

What is pleurodesis?

Pleurodesis (say "pler-oh-DEE-sus") is treatment to keep fluid from building up around your lungs.

Normally there is some space between the outside of your lungs and your chest wall. This space gives your lungs room to expand when you breathe.

But some health problems, such as pneumonia, cancer, and heart failure, can cause fluid to build up in that space. Your lungs no longer have room to expand. It makes it hard to breathe.

To fix this, the doctor will drain the extra fluid through a tube in your chest. Then the doctor will put talcum powder or an antibiotic or chemical solution into the space between your lungs and chest wall. The powder or solution will irritate and inflame the tissues so that after several days the tissues will stick together. The space where fluid used to build up will be gone.

The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes. Then the tube may stay in place until the tissues stick together. The procedure can be painful, but you will get medicine to help with pain.

What happens on the day of the procedure?

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  Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your procedure may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of water.
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  Take a bath or shower before you come in for your procedure. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
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  Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

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  Bring a picture ID.
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  You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. The anesthesia may make you sleep. Or it may just numb the area being worked on.
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  The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes. Then you may spend a few hours in bed changing position every 30 minutes.