1. THE ‘UNTAPPED’ POTENTIAL OF TUNNELED PLEURAL CATHETERS
TPC Presentation
THE ‘UNTAPPED’ POTENTIAL OF TUNNELED PLEURAL CATHETERS
(pun intended)
Mrinalini Krishnan, M.D.
Troy Moritz, D.O., FACOS
PinnacleHealth Harrisburg Hospital
Harrisburg, PA

2. Background / Methodology
Purpose: assess the off-label use of Tunneled Pleural Catheters (TPCs) to ‘tap’ recurrent non-malignant pleural effusions secondary to chronic end-stage diseases
Hypothesis: placement of TPCs will decrease in-patient re-admissions for exacerbations of pleural effusions
Retrospective chart review of 98 patients – 37 patients included with recurrent, non-malignant pleural effusions
Patients set up with homecare support, draining 2-3 times per week, and followed out-patient until catheter removal

3. Patient Characteristics
Total Number of Patients 37
Age (Mean, SD, Range)
30 – 92
Gender (Female, n, %) 17
45.95%
Co-morbid Conditions
(n,%)
Hypertension 32
86.49%
Chronic Kidney Disease 22
59.46%
Congestive Heart Failure 25
67.57%
Liver Disease 4
10.81%
Malnutrition 8
21.62%
Multiple Conditions 33
89.19%

4. Re-admissions Before & Re-admissions Before & After TPC Removed (n=31)
After TPC Placed (n=37)
Re-admissions Before & After TPC Removed (n=31)
The average re-admission rates for all measures with TPC intervention are significantly reduced, p<0.0001

5. Results / Conclusion
Re-admissions significantly decreased in 3 months and 1 year before to after TPC was placed, as well as removed
Both statistically significant, p<0.0001
In conclusion, placement of Tunneled Pleural Catheters decrease in-patient re-admissions in non-malignant pleural effusions, and placing these catheters can ‘tap’ this statistically significant application of TPCs