Which drainage method hurts less? new trial aims to ease pain for lung fluid patients

NCT ID NCT03831386

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study compares two ways of draining fluid from around the lungs in people with advanced cancer: one using suction (vacuum) and one using gravity. The goal is to see which method causes less chest pain during drainage. About 200 participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two methods, and their pain levels will be tracked over two weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) drainage system
What this could lead to: If this trial succeeds, it could identify a less painful way to drain fluid from around the lungs, improving daily comfort for people with advanced cancer.
What could go wrong: This is a relatively small, early-stage study focused on symptom relief, not a cure. The results may not apply to all patients, and the benefit might be modest.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Pleural Effusion

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PLEURAL EFFUSION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
Northwest Community Healthcare

Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60005, United States
Swedish Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States
University of Oxford

Oxford, United Kingdom
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

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