Continuous low flow ascites drainage through the urinary bladder via the Alfapump system in palliative patients with malignant ascites.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Malignant Ascites (MA) is a therapeutic dilemma significantly impairing patients' quality of life (QoL). The Sequana Medical alfapump System (AP), a subcutaneous, externally rechargeable, implantable device, continually draining ascites via the urinary bladder, has been well established in liver cirrhosis, but not yet in MA. The AP-system was evaluated in cancer patients in reducing the need for large volume paracentesis (LVP). METHODS:A retrospective multicentre evaluation of all eligible patients who received an AP for MA-palliation was performed. AP was evaluated for its ability to reduce LVP and cross-correlated with adverse events (AE), survival and retrospective physician-reported QoL. RESULTS:Seventeen patients with median age of 63?years (range: 18-81), 70.6% female, across 7 primary tumour types were analysed. Median duration of AP-implantation was 60?min (range: 30-270) and median post-implantation hospital stay: 4?days (range: 2-24). Twelve protocol-defined AE occurred in 5 patients (29.4%): 4 kidney failures, 4 pump/catheter-related blockages, 3 infections/peritonitis and 1 wound dehiscence. Median ascitic volume (AV) pumped daily was 303.6?ml/day (range:5.6-989.3) and median total AV drained was 28?L (range: 1-638.6). Median patient post-AP-survival was 111?days (range:10-715) and median pump survival was 89?days (range: 0-715). Median number of paracenteses was 4 (range: 1-15) per patient pre-implant versus 1 (range: 0-1) post-implant (p?=?0.005). 71% of patients were reported to have an improvement of at least one physician reported QoL-parameters. CONCLUSIONS:AP appears to be effective in palliating patients with MA by an acceptable morbidity profile. Its broader implementation in oncology services should be further explored. TRIAL REGISTRATION:NCT03200106; June 27, 2017.
SUBMITTER: Fotopoulou C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6896754 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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