ALERT CONTENT PLACEHOLDER

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Location

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Location

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What We Do

The Rapid Assessment of Complex Pleural Effusion Program (RACE) is a part of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, managing and addressing the needs of patients with Malignant Pleural Effusions (MPE). MPE is a type of advanced malignancy that can cause an accumulation of fluid in the chest. MPE affects nearly 50% of patients with advanced cancer, most commonly patients with lung, breast, gynecological cancers and lymphoma. The goal of the program is to shift the inpatient management of MPE to an ambulatory setting and, by doing so, increase our patients' quality of life and reduce healthcare costs. The program aims to offer prompt access to clinicians with expertise in MPE assessment and management and long term follow up of patients with MPE in a multidisciplinary team setting.

Tests/Services

  • Thoracentesis
    A thoracentesis is a procedure done to remove the extra fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall. Some conditions cause more fluid to build up in your pleural space and too much fluid can make it more difficult to breathe. A thoracentesis is done to ease the symptoms related to pleural effusions, and the doctor may send a small sample off to the laboratory for more testing.
  • Tenckhoff Catheter Insertion
    A Tenckhoff Catheter is a soft, see-through rubber tube that remains within the pleural space and can be permanent if necessary. A doctor puts it into your pleural space to drain fluid from around your lung that allows you to drain the re-accumulating fluid as needed from your home environment to ease symptoms caused by the fluid buildup.
  • Tenckhoff Catheter Removal
    The fluid amount in the lung space may reduce significantly and you may no longer require the catheter for drainage. If your catheter is draining minimal amounts (less than 150mL a week) for a period of 3 weeks, chest x-ray done that looks stable, and your symptoms are minimal and/or manageable- then you can come to the clinic for an assessment to see if the catheter can be removed.

How to Prepare

Learn more about what you can expect when you have a clinic appointment.​

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Meet Our Team

Medical Director: Dr. Kasia Czarnecka-Kujawa

Clinical Nurse Coordinators: Marco Cheung & Rachel Downie

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