Video-assisted talc pleurodesis in the management of pleural effusion secondary to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a report of three cases.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an effective treatment for end-stage renal disease. Hydrothorax secondary to pleuroperitoneal communication is an unusual complication of CAPD, with persistence or recurrence requiring alternate forms of dialysis. We have recently managed three patients with CAPD-induced right hydrothorax secondary to such communications. Earlier treatment methods have included thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy with chemical pleurodesis and even thoracotomy with attempts to locate and close the communication. We used a new approach consisting of video-assisted thoracic surgery and direct talc poudrage. All patients were successfully returned to CAPD; one patient required a repeat procedure after an initial recurrence. Video-assisted thoracic surgery with talc poudrage is an effective and safe procedure with minimal morbidity for management of hydrothorax secondary to CAPD. This procedure allows identification of diaphragmatic defects amenable to repair and talc placement under direct visualization, allowing even distribution over the inferior surface of the lung.