Aleksandar Lazarevic1,2, Milan Dobric3,4, Boris Goronja1, Dijana Trninic1, Svetozar Krivokuca1, Jelena Jovanic1, Eugenio Picano5. 1. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center of the Republic of Srpska, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2. Cardio Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 3. Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. 4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. 5. CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Pleural effusion refractory to diuretic treatment is frequent in advanced heart failure. Therapeutic thoracentesis is a time-honored practice, recently made simpler and safer by guidance with lung ultrasound. To assess the feasibility and clinical impact of lung ultrasound-driven therapeutic thoracentesis in refractory heart failure.Methods and results: In a single-centre retrospective analysis we recruited 373 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (26 ± 12%), New York Heart Association class ≥3, and pleural effusion ≥ moderate at lung ultrasound. All patients underwent lung ultrasound-guided therapeutic thoracentesis. Total of 462 lung ultrasound-guided therapeutic thoracentesis procedures were successfully performed without complications. Evacuated pleural fluid by passive drainage was 1030 ± 534 mL. The maximal interpleural space was 73.6 ± 15.6 mm before, and 12.4 ± 3.1 mm after therapeutic thoracentesis (p < .001). Therapeutic thoracentesis induced an immediate symptomatic improvement in all patients, with New York Heart Association class decrease from 3.84 ± 0.37 pre- to 2.7 ± 0.55 post-therapeutic thoracentesis (p <.001). The improvement was long-lasting (for weeks/months) in 89% of patients. The 6-min walking test was 52 ± 29 m before, and 287 ± 56 m one month after therapeutic thoracentesis (p < .05). Conclusion: Lung ultrasound-driven therapeutic thoracentesis of pleural effusion in decompensated heart failure patients is feasible, safe, and efficient. Therapeutic thoracentesis induces immediate and substantial symptomatic relief followed by long-lasting improvement.
Background: Pleural effusion refractory to diuretic treatment is frequent in advanced heart failure. Therapeutic thoracentesis is a time-honored practice, recently made simpler and safer by guidance with lung ultrasound. To assess the feasibility and clinical impact of lung ultrasound-driven therapeutic thoracentesis in refractory heart failure.Methods and results: In a single-centre retrospective analysis we recruited 373 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (26 ± 12%), New York Heart Association class ≥3, and pleural effusion ≥ moderate at lung ultrasound. All patients underwent lung ultrasound-guided therapeutic thoracentesis. Total of 462 lung ultrasound-guided therapeutic thoracentesis procedures were successfully performed without complications. Evacuated pleural fluid by passive drainage was 1030 ± 534 mL. The maximal interpleural space was 73.6 ± 15.6 mm before, and 12.4 ± 3.1 mm after therapeutic thoracentesis (p < .001). Therapeutic thoracentesis induced an immediate symptomatic improvement in all patients, with New York Heart Association class decrease from 3.84 ± 0.37 pre- to 2.7 ± 0.55 post-therapeutic thoracentesis (p <.001). The improvement was long-lasting (for weeks/months) in 89% of patients. The 6-min walking test was 52 ± 29 m before, and 287 ± 56 m one month after therapeutic thoracentesis (p < .05). Conclusion: Lung ultrasound-driven therapeutic thoracentesis of pleural effusion in decompensated heart failurepatients is feasible, safe, and efficient. Therapeutic thoracentesis induces immediate and substantial symptomatic relief followed by long-lasting improvement.