Therapy

Pain and fever are common after pleurodesis ^b , so give prophylactic analgesia ^d  - options include opiates ^d and intrathecal local anaesthesia ^d  

Note:

• A quarter of patients have pain (23%; 95%CI: 17% to 22%) ^b
• A fifth have fever (19%; 95% CI: 17% to 22%) ^b
• Intrathecal bupivicaine reduces pain for up to four hours following insertion of a chest drain. ^a