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Comparing Active Versus Passive Aspiration in Therapeutic Thoracentesis: Efficacy, Procedure Time, and Patient Safety

NCT07184736 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2025-09-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the efficacy and safety of active manual aspiration versus passive gravity drainage during therapeutic thoracentesis for large symptomatic pleural effusions. A total of 60 eligible patients will be randomized into two equal groups. The active aspiration group will undergo fluid removal using manual syringe suction, while the passive aspiration group will undergo drainage via gravity. The primary outcomes of the study are the total procedure time and the volume of pleural fluid aspirated. Secondary outcomes include patient-reported pain (measured on a Numeric Rating Scale), patient-reported dyspnea (measured by the mMRC scale), the incidence of procedure-related cough, and the reason for procedure termination. The goal of this study is to determine which technique offers a better balance of efficiency and patient comfort.

Conditions

  • Pleural Effusion

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Active Manual Syringe Aspiration

For the Active Manual Syringe Aspiration, the operator manually withdraws pleural fluid using a syringe attached to a 3-way stopcock and transfusion set. The fluid is then expelled into a collection bag.

PROCEDURE

Passive Gravity Drainage

In Passive Gravity Drainage, after confirming proper needle placement with initial aspiration, the syringe is detached, and pleural fluid is allowed to drain passively by gravity through the transfusion set into a collection bag.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sheikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-03-01
Primary Completion
2022-03-01
Completion
2022-03-01

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07184736 on ClinicalTrials.gov