Pulmonary effusions associated with ovarian cancer indicate advanced d
isease. Although many patients tolerate these effusions, some are symp
tomatic and manifest respiratory distress. Therapeutic sclerosis of th
e pleural cavity is successful in some patients; however, not all pati
ents are relieved of respiratory symptoms. We present two symptomatic
patients in whom sclerosis was unsuccessful or not an option; their re
spiratory symptoms were relieved with placement of pigtail catheter ch
est tubes that allowed discharge from the hospital and management at h
ome. Catheters were easy to manage at home and there were no infectiou
s complications. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.