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PleurX catheter for pleural effusions: Has anyone used it?

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PleurX catheter for pleural effusions: Has anyone used it?

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Gordon

04/19/2025 at 5:59 PM

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Gordon

Last activity on 04/28/2025 at 6:31 PM

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Since November 2024 I have been in the hospital to have pleural effusions drained (Thoracentesis) three times. I had to go to the ER each time, because I was unable to wait for an out-patient appointment. I was in the hospital on average 3 days each time. The last time, the ER doctor decided that a chest tube was needed.

After much searching for information on this issue and discussing with my Pulmonologist, my pulmonologist and I agreed that the next step to avoid future hospitalizations for this was to have the Indwelling Pleural Catheter (PleurX) placed in my chest so that I could drain this fluid as needed at home. The other option was Chemical Pleurodesis with a sclerosing agent such as doxycycline or talc powder. This would essentially glue my lung to the chest wall, eliminating most of the pleural space where the fluid collects. This option is a more drastic one for patients suffering with cancer that may cause the effusions. Mine thankfully is not.

In my search online for resources and information from others who have this PleurX catheter implanted, I have found no help at all. I am posting this here to search for others who have had this procedure and want to know what their experiences were. I am looking for any advice, issues, concerns, difficulties, good points as well as bad points. If any of you have direct knowledge on the Indwelling Pleural Catheter as a patient or caregiver, please let me know your experiences.

Thank you all and special thanks to Somya, for her guidance in preparing this post.

Gordon

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Somya.P

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04/23/2025 at 10:25 AM

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Somya.P

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Last activity on 04/29/2025 at 1:13 PM

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Hi @Gordon, how are you doing?

Thank you so much for starting this conversation. It really sounds like you’ve been through a lot over the past few months, and moving forward with a PleurX catheter must have come with a lot of consideration. Your post will no doubt help others who are facing similar decisions. To help gather more responses, I’ve also tagged a few members for better reach and updated the title to make it clearer and easier to find for anyone searching for this topic. 💙

For those who may not be familiar, a PleurX catheter is a small, flexible tube inserted into the chest to help drain excess fluid around the lungs. It can offer more independence and help reduce the need for repeated hospital visits for those living with recurrent pleural effusions.

Here are a few questions to get the discussion going:

❓ Have you or someone you know used a PleurX catheter to manage pleural effusions? What was the experience like?

❓ Were there any challenges with maintaining the catheter at home or accessing the supplies you needed?

❓ Looking back, what would you say were the biggest benefits or drawbacks of having the catheter?

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Let’s come together and support Gordon with your insights, experiences, or even just a kind word. 💬

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼

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Somya from the Carenity team

PleurX catheter for pleural effusions: Has anyone used it? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/pleural-effusions-6234 2025-04-23 10:25:47

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Gordon

04/23/2025 at 10:06 PM

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Gordon

Last activity on 04/28/2025 at 6:31 PM

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@Somya.P

So I went in to the hospital this morning for the placement of the PleurX Chest Catheter for my recurring Pleural Effusions. After checking in and reviewing with the attending Dr. we decided not to proceed with the placement of that catheter but to just drain the fluid (Thoracentesis) for several reasons. They drained nearly a liter of fluid again and gave me recommendations for a new Pulmonologist (My Pulmo's clinic closed out last week). Going forward I will need to schedule Monthly (or whatever the frequency needs are) draining as out patient at the hospital. This will eliminate the need for the indwelling catheter, the cost and bother with the necessary supplies, and trips to the E.R. with hospital stays for something that can be done as out patient and set up on a routine schedule...and no catheter.

So no more searching for people with experience of the PleurX Indwelling Chest Cather, where to get support and supplies, and the good, bad, and indifferent issues with them.

According to the Interventional Radiologist Doctor who was scheduled to place this catheter, he advised that this procedure is normally for more critical or terminal patients, commonly with cancer causing the fluid accumulation in the pleural space. Additionally, these catheters build up scar tissue and webbing causing the need to replace them with only 6 months or so of use. Since I am not terminal and the root cause is not any form of cancer, we opted for the simpler Thoracentesis today and regular out patient scheduling going forward.

Thank you again Somya for your support and assistance in this with me.

Gordon

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Gordon Harvey

PleurX catheter for pleural effusions: Has anyone used it? https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/pleural-effusions-6234 2025-04-23 22:06:08

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

@KathyA‍, please read what I wrote above on using oxygen. I am so, so, thrilled to have portable oxygen that gave me more of my life back. I was told in 2011 when I lived in San Miguel de Allende at 6,400 ft altitude that I needed to go on oxygen, but all I saw around town was one woman with the heavy metal canisters in a cart behind her, and that looked terrible. I moved back to near sea level and put off needing oxygen all day for another seven years, just a Bipap at night.

Finally I was huffing and having to stop every few feet even near sea level, but I still didn't want to be lugging a heavy canister behind me. I ran into an old friend who was always really active, ballroom dancing, hiking, fly fishing in rivers. And there she was with an Inogen in a backpack, doing everything she'd always done!

She showed me all about hers and the total package with machine, extra 8-hour battery, two battery chargers for house and car, carrying case, and extended warranty, was around $3,300!

Finally I saved enough for it and have loved it every minute since. I started on 2 for almost a year but had to go to 3 for every day. I switch to 4 liters a minute several times a day when I still get winded bad, and have gone up to 5 for stair climbing. I worry that I will need to go higher than 5 eventually, but I hope by then there will be sronger machines developed that go higher, though then the $500 batteries only last a few hours before needing recharging, instead of 6-8.

The portable ones now are breath-operated--you have to be breathing into the nose cannula for them to work. And my BiPap at night requires continuous flow, which the big oxygen machine Medicare covers provides, so I need both machines. Some day they may all be continuous flow and still portable.

There are cheaper, refurbished units available from the Inogen factory, too. After 1 1/2 years mine started sending strange messages and I called the factory and they sent a new one out the next day! I sent them the old one back no charge. So I am pleased with service, too.

Hope this helps you accept your machine. I am so, so happy I got mine and wish Medicare paid for everyone who needed one.(I understand in a few cases they will pay for one now, but not my particular Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.)

I bet when you go to your reunion you won't be the only one on oxygen! And everyone will be so old! The ones who are already dead and not there are the ones to think about--how many of them had COPD? Fourth leading cause of death in the US before Covid, so now we're fifth. Be glad for all the help you can get! I hope you have a wonderful reunion!

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cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

@Thakera Yes, even on Medicare it was $400+ a month. My Pulmonologist arranged for me to get it with no copay from GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, you can look up their assistance program at https://www.gskforyou.com/ Hope it goes okay for you, I am just in the process fo renewing mine for next year.

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

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cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

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PleurX catheter for pleural effusions: Has anyone used it?

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