ABSTRACT
Pleural infection is a common clinical condition leading to hospitalisation. In the last decade, advances in pleural research have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of complex effusion from a surgical approach to a less invasive non-surgical approach using a combination of intrapleural fibrinolytics and pulmozyme (DNase). We report 3 patients with pleural infection. Intercostal chest catheter failed to drain the complex effusion. They were subsequently treated with a modified short-course regimen of alteplase and DNase. They received 3 cycles of 16 mg alteplase with 5 mg DNase each within 24 hours and all three had a favourable outcome with no adverse effects. This modified regimen appears effective with good safety profile and adds to the current literature on the safety and effectiveness of different dose combinations of alteplase and DNase.
ABSTRACT
Alteplase and pulmozyme (DNase) administered intrapleurally have revolutionised the management of pleural infection in the last decade. However, the use of intrapleural fibrinolytic has not been well established in high risks patients. Here, we describe 2 patients with high risk of bleeding due to recent surgery who developed empyema; successfully treated with these medications. The first patient was a 36-year-old female post oesophagectomy for oesophageal carcinoma, complicated with anastomotic leak and empyema; and the second patient was a 56-year-old female post percutaneous nephrolithotomy for right obstructive uropathy who developed right-sided empyema. Both patients were treated successfully with 3 doses of intrapleural alteplase 2.5 mg and DNase 5 mg without any major adverse effects. This case report adds to the current literature on the safety of intrapleural fibrinolytics and highlights that lower doses of alteplase in combination with pulmozyme is efficacious and may be considered in high-risk patients.