Safety and efficacy of using a surgivac pump for the drainage of chronic indwelling pleural catheters in malignant pleural effusions

Background and objective: This descriptive study assessed whether a reusable commercially available surgivac pump was a safe and affordable method for draining chronic malignant pleural effusions with an indwelling pleural catheter. Methods: Patients who were managed as outpatients using this technique were recruited over a 5-year period in Cairo, Egypt. The indwelling pleural catheters were inserted under local anaesthesia in a bronchoscopy suite. Patients were instructed by a trained nurse on how to drain the catheter using the surgivac pump. Results: Fifty-five patients were included in the study. Successful pleurodesis was achieved in 42 (76.3%) over a mean period of drainage of 19.1 days (range 12-59 days). In all patients, the surgivac pump was successful in draining their pleural fluid and there were no complications related to the device itself. Conclusion: The use of a surgivac pump to drain malignant effusions via a chronic indwelling pleural catheter is safe and results in a pleurodesis comparable to the more commonly used negative pressure containers (vacuum bottles).