Indwelling Pleural Catheter (IPC)

A catheter is put in place to help drain excess fluid from around your lung. Too much fluid around your lung is called pleural effusion.

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A buildup of excess of fluid around your lung is called a pleural effusion. It can make you short of breath by preventing your lung from opening up fully during breathing. One treatment for this problem is to use an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC). This is a thin, flexible tube that drains the fluid from around your lungs.

Male upper body and lungs showing catheter attached to a drainage bottle and inserted under skin into fluid-filled right pleural cavity.

What is pleural effusion?

The pleura are two layers of thin, smooth tissue. They surround the lungs and line the chest. The area between these layers is called the pleural space. The pleural space normally has a small amount of fluid. This fluid lubricates the pleura as you breathe. Pleural effusion means that you have too much fluid between the pleura. It can cause pain or make it hard to breathe.

Getting the pleural catheter

The IPC is put in place with a minor surgery. Your skin is cleaned and numbed with medicine. The doctor makes a small cut (incision) in your skin. Then the catheter is gently put through the incision into the pleural space. Ultrasound or other imaging helps to guide this process. One end of the tube stays outside your skin. A small piece of extra material on the tube just inside the skin helps it stay in place. This piece of material is called a cuff.

The catheter will drain extra fluid and ease your breathing symptoms. When it's time to drain fluid, it can be attached to a small bottle. When not being used, the catheter is coiled next to your skin and covered with a dressing. The catheter will be left in place for weeks or months. Your care team will tell you how long it will stay in place.

Caring for your pleural catheter

  • Drain fluid with the catheter system exactly as instructed by your care team. You may need to do this every 1 to 2 days.

  • You can shower if your catheter site is fully covered with a secure dressing that sticks to your skin. Make sure there are no gaps around the edge. Follow any instructions from your care team.

  • Don’t let your catheter go underwater. This includes in a bathtub or pool.

  • If any part of the padding under the dressing gets wet, you will need to remove it. Change it for dry padding as instructed.

Preventing infection

While you have an IPC, the areas affected by the catheter are at risk for infection. If you have signs of infection, you will need to take antibiotic medicine.

To help prevent infection:

  • Wash your hands before you touch the dressing or catheter.

  • When draining fluid, use only clean supplies set up in a clean area.

  • Make sure the catheter is always clean, dry, and covered when you are not draining fluid.

  • Don’t go into a pool or hot tub.

Watch for signs of infection. These can include:

  • Fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your doctor.

  • Pain that gets worse.

  • Redness, swelling, fluid, or warmth where the catheter goes into your skin.

  • Changes in the way the fluid looks.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your doctor right away if:

  • You have signs of infection (see above).

  • The small cuff just inside your skin has pulled out.

  • The catheter has started to pull out.

  • Not much fluid is draining.

  • You still find it hard to breathe after draining fluid.

  • Your symptoms don’t get better, or they get worse.