Chest drain flushing for lung infections
Part of Infections, Lungs & breathing clinical trials.
This study tests whether regularly flushing the chest tube with a small amount of liquid helps prevent blockages in people who have a severe lung infection that spreads to the chest cavity. If you need a chest tube for this type of infection, you may be able to join.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You are 18 years or older.
- You have a lung infection that has spread to the space around your lungs, and you need a chest tube to drain fluid (this is called a complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema).
- Your chest tube is the type that can connect to a three-way stopcock (a small device that helps control fluid flow).
- Your doctor expects the chest tube to stay in place for at least 24 hours.
- You do not already have a permanent chest catheter (a tube that stays in long-term).
- You are able to give your consent and have a chest X-ray.
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
Similar studies
Other trials that look related to this one.
This study tests whether rinsing the infected space around the lung with salt water (saline) before giving enzyme medicine helps clear the infection better than just the enzyme medicine alone. It's for people with a serious lung infection (empyema) that requires a chest tube.
This study tests a two-step treatment for infected fluid around the lungs called empyema. It uses two medicines (tPA and DNase) given through your chest tube to break up and clear the fluid, which may help your lung expand and avoid surgery.
This trial compares using a special camera to look inside your chest (medical thoracoscopy) with standard care to treat infections in the fluid around the lungs. It aims to see if this procedure helps clear the infection better, possibly reducing the need for more invasive surgery or a longer hospital stay.
This trial tests if adding a simple saltwater rinse to standard chest tube drainage helps clear stubborn lung infections. It might be an option if you have an infected fluid pocket in your chest that isn't draining well.
This trial tests a new device to wash out fluid that stays in the chest after a chest tube is placed. It might help people who cannot receive standard medication to break up this fluid within the first day after their chest tube is inserted.
This trial studies a procedure called pleurodesis, which helps stop fluid from building up around the lungs. It uses a small tube to deliver a substance that sticks the lung to the chest wall, which may reduce the need for repeated drainage in people with fluid caused by conditions like cancer.
Hear when a new Empyema, Pleural trial opens
We’ll email you when one opens — at most once a week, no account needed, unsubscribe anytime.