[Use of intravenous hyperalimentation catheter to drainage prolonged postoperative pleural effusion after harvesting the internal thoracic artery].

Increased chest drainage, a higher incidence of pleural effusions in the postoperative period, and more chest tube drainage was found after harvesting the internal thoracic artery (ITA). Patients with these complications required thoracocentesis, or prolonged chest tube drainage. But these methods may be painful and make a limitation to activity of daily life (ADL) in these patients. We therefore sought an effective procedure for these patients, and applied pleural placement of intravenous hyperalimentation catheter. This technique could drain the effusion completely, conveniently and painlessly without a limitation to ADL. Pneumothorax, infections and other complications occurred in no patients. We concluded that this method might be useful in these patients with prolonged post operative pleural effusion after harvesting the ITA who have failed other modes of therapy.