Memorial Provides Relief to Pleural Effusion Patients

Memorial Healthcare System recently became the first hospital in the world to offer the Pleural Dynamics ACES™ (Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt) System to patients suffering from recurrent pleural effusions. The device uses a patient’s normal breathing to provide continuous relief from the condition, which causes excess fluid to accumulate in the pleural space between the lungs and chest wall.

Approximately 1.5 million Americans are impacted by pleural effusion each year, and it is commonly linked to cancer, heart failure, pneumonia, kidney and liver disease.

Memorial, under the leadership of Mark Block, MD, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, had previously been one of only four healthcare centers in the U.S. selected to participate in the clinical trial for the ACES system. Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the University of North Carolina Medical Center were the others.

“The ACES System represents a significant leap forward in pleural effusion management, and we’re proud to be the first ones offering the treatment,” said Dr. Block. “It’s a fully internal, patient-friendly device that offers relief without the complications of traditional treatments.”

The new treatment utilizes a pump implanted between the ribs, internal catheters, and the patient’s own breathing to reduce as much as a liter of effusion per day. The fluid drains into the abdomen for natural reabsorption, minimizing symptoms (primarily shortness of breath) and eliminating the need for external catheters, ongoing management, or extended hospital stays.