Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Patients with and without Non-Expandable Lung Secondary to Malignant Pleural Effusion-A Single-Centre Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) affects up to 15% of patients with malignancy, and the prevalence is increasing. Non-expandable lung (NEL) complicates MPE in up to 30% of cases. However, it is not known if patients with malignant pleural effusion and NEL are more symptomatic in activities of daily living compared to patients with MPE with expandable lung. METHODS: This was an observational study on consecutively recruited patients with MPE from our pleural clinic. Before thoracentesis, patients completed patient-reported outcomes on cancer symptoms (ESAS), health-related quality of life (5Q-5D-5L), and dyspnoea scores. Following thoracentesis, patients scored dyspnoea relief and symptoms during thoracentesis. Data on focused lung ultrasound and pleural effusion biochemistry were collected. The non-expandable lung diagnosis was made by pleural experts based on radiological and clinical information. RESULTS: We recruited 43 patients, including 12 with NEL (28%). The NEL cohort resembled those from previous studies concerning ultrasonography, pleural fluid biochemistry, and fewer cases with high volume thoracentesis. Patients with and without NEL were comparable concerning baseline demography. The 5Q-5D-5L utility scores were 0.836 (0.691-0.906) and 0.806 (0.409-0.866), respectively, for patients with and without NEL. We observed no between-group differences in symptom burden or health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: While the presence of NEL affects the clinical management of recurrent MPE, the presence of NEL seems not to affect patients' overall symptom burden in patients with MPE.

Safety and feasibility of oesophageal ultrasound for the work-up of thoracic malignancy in patients with respiratory impairment.

Biopsying lung tumours with endobronchial access in patients with respiratory impairment is challenging. However, fine needle aspiration with the endobronchial ultrasound-endoscope via the oesophagus (EUS-B-FNA) makes it possible to obtain tissue samples without entering the airways. Safety of EUS-B-FNA in these patients has not earlier been investigated prospectively. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing feasibility and safety of EUS-B-FNA from centrally located tumours suspected of thoracic malignancy in patients with respiratory insufficiency. The study is a prospective observational study. Patients with indication of EUS-B-FNA of centrally located tumours and respiratory impairment defined as modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale score of ≥3, saturation ≤90% or need of continuous oxygen supply were included prospectively in three centres. Any adverse events (AEs) were recorded during procedure and 1-hour recovery. AEs were defined as hypoxemia (saturation <90% or need for increased oxygen supply) or any kind of events needing intervention. Late procedure-related events were recorded during 30-day follow-up. Between April 1, 2020 and January 30, 2021, 16 patients were included. No severe AEs (SAEs) occurred, but AEs were seen in 50% (n=8) and 13% (n=2) of the patients during procedure and recovery respectively. AEs included hypoxemia corrected with increased oxygen supply and in two cases reversal of sedation. Late procedure-related events were seen in 13% (n=2) and included prolonged need of oxygen and one infection treated with oral antibiotics. In this cohort, EUS-B-FNA of centrally located tumours was safe and feasible in patients with respiratory impairment, when examined in the bronchoscopy suite. A variety of mostly mild and manageable complications may occur, a few even up to 30 days post-procedure.