RESUMEN
Drainage of a pleural effusion is done either by inserting an intercostal tube or by aspirating pleural fluid using a syringe. The latter is a time-consuming and labour-intensive procedure. The serious complications of pleural aspiration are the development of a pneumothorax and re-expansion pulmonary oedema. We describe an observation made during a pleural aspiration in a patient who was on positive pressure ventilation. We explain the physiological basis for the observation, the safety of the procedure and its potential to reduce complications by reviewing the literature. A 56-year-old Sri Lankan female patient with end-stage kidney disease presented with fluid overload and bilateral pleural effusions. She was found to have concurrent COVID pneumonia. The patient was on bilevel positive airway pressure, non-invasive ventilation when pleural aspiration was done. The pleural fluid drained completely without the need for aspiration, once the cannula was inserted into the pleural space. One litre of fluid drained in 15 min without the patient developing symptoms or complications. Positive pressure ventilation leads to a supra-atmospheric (positive) pressure in the pleural cavity. This leads to a persistent positive pressure gradient throughout the procedure, leading to complete drainage of pleural fluid. Pleural fluid drainage in mechanically ventilated patients has been proven to be safe, implying the safety of positive pressure ventilation in pleural fluid aspiration and drainage. It further has the potential to reduce the incidence of post-aspiration pneumothorax by reducing the pressure fluctuations at the visceral pleura. Re-expansion pulmonary oedema is associated with a higher negative pleural pressure during aspiration, and the use of positive pressure ventilation can theoretically prevent re-expansion pulmonary oedema. Positive pressure ventilation can reduce the re-accumulation of the effusion as well. We suggest utilizing positive pressure ventilation to assist pleural aspiration in suitable patients.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: International guidelines recommend pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) should be offered to adults living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but PR availability is limited in Sri Lanka. Culturally appropriate PR needs to be designed and implemented in Sri Lanka. The study aims to adapt PR to the Sri Lankan context and determine the feasibility of conducting a future trial of the adapted PR in Sri Lanka. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Eligible participants will be identified and will be invited to take part in the randomised controlled feasibility trial, which will be conducted in Central Chest Clinic, Colombo, Sri Lanka. A total of 50 participants will be recruited (anticipated from April 2021) to the trial and randomised (1:1) into one of two groups; control group receiving usual care or the intervention group receiving adapted PR. The trial intervention is a Sri Lankan-specific PR programme, which will consist of 12 sessions of exercise and health education, delivered over 6 weeks. Focus groups with adults living with COPD, caregivers and nurses and in-depth interviews with doctors and physiotherapist will be conducted to inform the Sri Lankan specific PR adaptations. After completion of PR, routine measures in both groups will be assessed by a blinded assessor. The primary outcome measure is feasibility, including assessing eligibility, uptake and completion. Qualitative evaluation of the trial using focus groups with participants and in-depth interviews with PR deliverers will be conducted to further determine feasibility and acceptability of PR, as well as the ability to run a larger future trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics review committee of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka and University of Leicester, UK. The results of the trial will be disseminated through patient and public involvement events, local and international conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN13367735.
