Management of malignant pleural effusions.

Purpose of review: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common cause of breathlessness indicative of advanced disease. Treatment approaches focus on relief of breathlessness and optimizing quality of life. A number of recent, high-impact publications give further insight into the advantages of different treatment options. This article provides a summary of the most up-to-date evidence in this area. Recent findings: Recent publications have demonstrated comparable pleurodesis outcomes of talc slurry to talc poudrage and explore strategies to combine the advantages of indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) with a chemical pleurodesis. A daily IPC drainage regime improves the chances of pleurodesis success and early IPC removal in patients without significant trapped lung. Summary: MPE is a diverse condition, with no one strategy representing the 'best' approach for all. Management decisions should be made in conjunction with the patient, taking their views and preferences into consideration.