To improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with malignant pleural effusion, we tried the manual Intrapleural hyperthermo-chemotherapy (IPHC) without some circuit systems under thoracoscopic examination. Six patients with malignant effusion from lung cancer underwent manual IPHC without circuit systems. The pleural space was filled with warmed saline solution containing cisplatin and adriamycin, kept about 42 to 43 (deg)C for 30 minutes. The pleural effusion was well controlled in 83 % of the patients. The systemic body temperature rose to the maximum of 39.0 (deg)C and back to below 37.5 (deg)C in a few days. This procedure is easy to perform and needs no special devices. We could get excellent local control. IPHC under thoracoscopy is safe and useful to control pleural effusion.
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