Novel approach to pleurodesis with 50 % glucose for air leakage after lung resection or pneumothorax

Purpose Pleurodesis is performed in patients demonstrating air leakage after lung resection and in those with pneumothorax who must avoid surgery. However, there have so far been very few reports of pleurodesis with 50 % glucose. We herein examined the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel pleurodesis technique. Methods Thirty-five patients after lung resection and 11 pneumothorax patients without surgery were treated with pleurodesis using 50 % glucose. Approximately, 200 mL of 50 % glucose solution was injected into the pleural space and repeated until the air leakage stopped. Cases in which the air leakage did not stop after three injections were considered to be unsuccessful and subsequently treated with conventional pleurodesis using OK-432. Results Thirty-nine patients were successfully treated with 50 % glucose, although 7 patients required further treatment with OK-432. The unsuccessful group had some pulmonary comorbidities ( P < 0.001), and the pleural effusion volume after pleurodesis was less than that in the successful group ( P < 0.001). Although the air leakage did not stop in unsuccessful patients, the amount of air leakage markedly decreased. A temporary elevation of the blood sugar level was observed in 20 patients, but no other side effects had appeared. Conclusions Pleurodesis with 50 % glucose is an easy, safe, and effective treatment modality. It is therefore considered to be a useful alternative method for pleurodesis.