Pleural disease – fluid gathering around the lungs – can be a common complication of cancer and can cause significant breathlessness and discomfort to patients.
Traditional treatments typically involve inserting a long-term tube to drain the fluid, either carried out in the community or a hospital stay for a temporary drain.
For some patients, squirting talcum powder into the chest to glue the lungs up and stop the problem coming back is the most effective procedure.
Unfortunately, this treatment usually means a prolonged hospital stay and no guarantee of success.
Research
Now a leading respiratory consultant at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is taking a key role in researching a new method of tackling the condition.
Dr. Kevin Conroy is working with colleagues at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to develop a solution to avoid the distress of a drainage tube being emptied several times a week or an unnecessary hospital stay.
Dr Conroy said: “The current treatments are well established but can present a difficult choice for our patients. Staying in hospital for the talcum powder treatment can be excellent but many patients would rather be at home and not stuck in hospital.
“We know from patients that they can find the regular draining of fluid from the lungs to be distressing. The drain is a permanent reminder of their illness and they have to plan their week around visits from the district nurse.
“Our research project lets a patient have a temporary drain and the talcum powder treatment as an outpatient – hopefully giving them the advantage of this treatment but also letting them sleep in their own bed.
“Although they have to come to clinic daily for 3-4 days they can get on with life.”
Pleural disease treatment
The research project, funded by Tees Valley Research Alliance, will take a year to be complete and the Dr. Conroy is confident they will attract enough patients to establish the outpatient treatment as an established pathway for pleural disease.
Kevin commented: “As soon as most patients hear there is a good chance they won’t need a lung drain anymore, they are happy to take part in the research.
“Pleural disease is an awful condition and we’re doing all we can to ease the symptoms. There isn’t really a one-size-fits-all solution for all patients; the right solution is the one that eases the pain of the symptoms for that particular patient.
“Our research is aiming to ease those symptoms for as many patients as possible.”