Talc pleurodesis versus indwelling pleural catheter among patients with malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Table 1 Characteristics of all included studies

Study		Nation	Groups	Patients (n)	Median age (year)	Sex		Tumor types (n)			TP group	Follow-up (month)	Design
Study		Nation	Groups	Patients (n)		Male	Female	Lung cancer	Breast cancer	Others	The installments of chest tube	Dose of talc
2012	Demmy [20]	USA	TP	29	60	16	13	17	4	8	Chest catheter (≥ 24F)	4–5 g	NA	RCT
2012	Demmy [20]	USA	IPC	28	64	17	11	19	3	6	Chest catheter (≥ 24F)	4–5 g	NA	RCT
2012	Davies [21]	UK	TP	54	67	23	31	16	11	27	Chest tube (12F)	4 g	12	RCT
2012	Davies [21]	UK	IPC	52	67	23	29	9	16	27	Chest tube (12F)	4 g	12	RCT
2017	Boshuizen [22]	Netherlands	TP	48	60	27	21	16	10	22	Chest tube (size: 15-20Ch)	NA	193^a	RCT
2017	Boshuizen [22]	Netherlands	IPC	46	64	19	27	15	10	21	Chest tube (size: 15-20Ch)	NA	193^a	RCT
2017	Thomas [23]	Australia	TP	72	70.5	42	30	29	4	39	Tube thoracostomy (12-18F)	Routine dose	12	RCT
2017	Thomas [23]	Australia	IPC	74	71	39	35	19	14	41	Tube thoracostomy (12-18F)	Routine dose	12	RCT

TP talc pleurodesis; IPC indwelling pleural catheter; mo month; F French; RCT randomized controlled trail; NA not available
^aThe time of follow-up is calculated by day rather than month

ISSN: 1477-7819