LAUSR

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Malignant pleural effusion is a common cause of breathlessness and signifies advanced disease. Common options for definitive pleural intervention include insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) or talc pleurodesis. RECENT FINDINGS Administration of graded talc through an IPC offers an increased chance of pleurodesis compared with IPC drainage alone and is not associated with a significant risk of adverse events. SUMMARY In patients where an ambulatory treatment pathway is preferred, the increased chance of pleurodesis with talc administration via IPC can result in a faster time to device removal and may be associated with better quality of life and symptom scores.