Abstract
Methods: Sixty one patients with tuberculous pleurisy were divided into two groups; 30 patients received pigtail drainage combined with antituberculosis (TB) drug treatment and 31 received only anti-TB drugs. Outcome measurements were assessed for a period of 24 weeks after treatment and included symptom scores and the incidence of residual pleural thickening (RPT).
Results: Although the duration of dyspnoea was significantly shortened by the use of pigtail drainage (median 4 days (IQR 4–5) v 8 days (IQR 7–16), p<0.001), a comparison of combined mean (SD) visual analogue scale (VAS) scores showed no significant difference between the groups after one week of treatment (57.1 (33.2) v 68.5 (44.7) or at any time during the follow up period. The incidence of RPT of more than 10 mm in the group treated with pigtail drainage and anti-TB drugs was 26% compared with 28% in the group receiving drug treatment only. The incidence of RPT levels of more than 2 mm in the two groups was 50% and 51%, respectively. No statistical difference between the two groups in terms of forced vital capacity was found at the end of treatment (median (IQR) 85.5% (69–94) of predicted v 88% (78–96) of predicted).
Conclusion: The addition of pigtail drainage to an effective anti-TB regimen is not clinically relevant and does not reduce the level of RPT.
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Selected References
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