Pleural Irrigation With a Novel Devise.

A Pilot Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Pleural Irrigation for Retained Pleural Infection Using a Novel Irrigation Device

Single-arm pilot trial of the use of intrapleural saline irrigation to treat retained pleural infections for patients with contraindications to standard of care intrapleural enzymatic therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Retained pleural effusion identified via bedside ultrasound within the first 24 hours after chest tube insertion
• Patient is contraindicated from receiving intrapleural enzymatic therapy within the first 24 hours after chest tube insertion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-infectious cause of pleural fluid analysis findings listed above identified (e.g. malignancy)
• Post-procedural empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion