BD (Becton, Dickinson) has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the use of PleurX catheter system in certain problems like heart failure.
BD said on Monday that the new PleurX use will be for for specific non-malignant recurrent pleural effusions etiologies. It was first approved 20 years ago for managing malignant and recurrent pleural effusions.
A pleural effusion is a collection of fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity that surrounds the lungs, leaving patients short of breath and affecting their quality of life. When this occurs, the PleurX catheter system provides patients with the option to drain pleural fluid in the comfort of their homes, which can help avoid the need for multiple hospital visits for thoracentesis procedures.
Dr. David Sternberg, Beaumont Hospital, Farmington Hills, MI states, “The benefits of the PleurX catheter system when used for congestive heart failure patients with recurrent pleural effusions include the ability to drain at home and the option to be performed as an outpatient procedure, this may lead to less visits to the office and hospital and a shorter length of stay.”