BD PleurX Drainage System — Home Management of Pleural Effusions & Malignant Ascites, 500 mL & 1,000 mL Kits

Drain at home. Reduce hospital visits. Manage fluid on your schedule. The BD CareFusion PleurX Drainage System is the clinical standard for home management of recurrent pleural effusions and malignant ascites — allowing patients to drain accumulated fluid from the chest or abdomen safely and efficiently at home, without repeat thoracentesis procedures or hospital admissions. The system's Active Vacuum Technology draws fluid quickly and comfortably without requiring gravity positioning. The proprietary safety catheter valve prevents inadvertent passage of air or fluid when not draining. The polyester cuff promotes tissue ingrowth to hold the catheter securely in place and reduce infection risk. Each drainage kit contains every component needed for a single drainage session. Available in 500 mL and 1,000 mL bottle sizes. The PleurX system is used exclusively with the PleurX Catheter — which is placed by a physician and remains in place for ongoing home drainage management.

✔ Active Vacuum Technology — No Gravity Required ✔ Proprietary Safety Valve — Prevents Air & Fluid Passage ✔ Polyester Cuff — Tissue Ingrowth, Infection Risk Reduction ✔ 15.5 Fr Silicone Catheter — Soft, Flexible, Fenestrated ✔ 500 mL & 1,000 mL Bottle Options ✔ Complete Per-Session Drainage Kit

Available SKUs

Bottle size selection: The 500 mL bottle is typically used for pleural effusion drainage when daily or every-other-day drainage sessions are prescribed and fluid volumes per session are moderate. The 1,000 mL bottle accommodates larger fluid volumes per session and is commonly used for malignant ascites or high-output pleural effusions. Your physician or care team will specify the bottle size appropriate for your drainage protocol.

Kit Contents — Per Drainage Session

Patient Information Kit (included with initial system setup — not per drainage kit): Drainage Log, Emergency Information Card, Frequently Asked Questions Brochure, Instructions for Use, Reference Wall Chart.

PleurX Catheter Specifications

Important: The PleurX Drainage Kit is for use only with the PleurX Catheter. Do not use any device other than the PleurX access tip, drainage line, or vacuum bottles with the PleurX Catheter valve — other devices can damage the valve, potentially allowing air to enter the body or fluid to leak when not draining.

Features & Benefits

• Active Vacuum Technology — The PleurX vacuum bottle uses active vacuum pressure to draw fluid from the pleural or peritoneal space quickly and efficiently — without requiring the patient to position themselves for gravity-assisted drainage. Drainage sessions typically take 5 to 15 minutes, minimizing the time and physical effort required for each session at home
• Proprietary Safety Catheter Valve — The valve at the external end of the PleurX Catheter is engineered to remain closed in both directions — preventing air from entering the body and preventing fluid from leaking out — unless specifically accessed with the matched PleurX drainage line or vacuum bottle. This reduces the risk of pneumothorax and catheter-related infection between drainage sessions and provides an additional layer of safety compared to standard luer connection catheters
• Polyester Cuff — Tissue Ingrowth — The catheter's polyester cuff is positioned under the skin at the insertion site. Over time, tissue grows into the cuff, anchoring the catheter in place and creating a biological seal that reduces the risk of ascending infection along the catheter tract — a significant safety advantage for a device intended for weeks to months of continuous indwelling use
• 15.5 Fr Silicone Catheter — The soft, flexible silicone catheter conforms to the contours of the pleural or peritoneal space and minimizes patient discomfort at the insertion site during wear and drainage. Large, smooth fenestrations at the catheter tip promote effective fluid drainage and resist occlusion from fibrin deposits or tissue
• Barium Sulfate Radiopaque Stripe — A radiopaque marker stripe running the full length of the catheter allows position to be confirmed on chest or abdominal X-ray at any time — supporting clinical monitoring throughout the duration of use
• Chemical Pleurodesis Capability — The PleurX Catheter can be used in place of a chest tube to deliver talc or bleomycin for chemical pleurodesis procedures — offering the potential for spontaneous pleurodesis (reported in approximately 46% of patients at a median of 26.5 days) that may allow catheter removal and long-term resolution of pleural fluid accumulation
• Complete Per-Session Kit — Each drainage kit contains every supply needed for a single drainage session — vacuum bottle with drainage line, alcohol pads, dressing, gloves, valve cap, clamp, gauze, and foam pad — eliminating the need to separately assemble supplies and ensuring consistent, sterile drainage procedure components at every session
• Home Management — Reduced Hospital Dependency — The PleurX system enables patients with recurrent pleural effusions or malignant ascites to manage fluid accumulation at home on a schedule directed by their physician — reducing the frequency of hospital or outpatient visits for repeat thoracentesis or paracentesis procedures, supporting quality of life and independence for patients with serious illness

Indications

• Recurrent malignant pleural effusions — home drainage management
• Non-malignant pleural effusions — including congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Malignant ascites — peritoneal fluid accumulation management (with PeritX Peritoneal Catheter)
• Palliation of dyspnea due to pleural effusion
• Chemical pleurodesis — talc or bleomycin delivery via PleurX Catheter

Important: The PleurX Drainage Kit is a prescription medical device. It must be used under the direction of a physician who has placed the PleurX Catheter and provided training on the drainage procedure. Do not attempt to use this system without physician direction and proper training.

Companion & Replacement Products

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Questions about the PleurX Drainage System or ordering by the case? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PleurX Drainage System used for?
The PleurX Drainage System is used to manage recurrent pleural effusions (fluid accumulation in the chest around the lungs) and malignant ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity). Both conditions are common in patients with cancer and other serious illnesses and cause significant symptoms — pleural effusions cause shortness of breath and chest discomfort, while ascites causes abdominal distension, discomfort, and reduced appetite. The PleurX system allows patients to drain this fluid at home on a schedule directed by their physician, reducing the need for repeat hospital or outpatient thoracentesis or paracentesis procedures.

What is the difference between the 500 mL and 1,000 mL drainage kits?
The difference is the capacity of the vacuum bottle included in each kit. The 500 mL bottle (50-7500B) is used when drainage sessions are expected to yield moderate fluid volumes or when more frequent smaller-volume drains are prescribed. The 1,000 mL bottle (50-7510) accommodates larger fluid volumes per session and is commonly used for malignant ascites management or high-output pleural effusions. Your physician will specify which bottle size is appropriate based on your drainage protocol, fluid accumulation rate, and clinical status. Some patients use different bottle sizes at different stages of treatment.

Does the PleurX kit include the catheter?
The drainage kit (50-7500B or 50-7510) does not include the catheter — it contains the per-session drainage supplies including the vacuum bottle with drainage line and all procedural components. The PleurX Catheter is placed separately by a physician during a clinical procedure and remains indwelling for the duration of treatment. Drainage kits are consumed at each drainage session; the catheter stays in place between sessions. If you need the catheter placement kit, ask your physician or care coordinator about the PleurX Pleural Catheter Kit (50-7000B / 50-7700) or PeritX Peritoneal Catheter Kit (50-9000B / 50-9900) depending on your drainage site.

How does the PleurX drainage session work?
After the catheter has been placed by a physician and the patient has been trained on the procedure, a typical drainage session involves opening the sterile kit, preparing a clean work surface, disinfecting the catheter valve with the provided alcohol pads, connecting the drainage line from the vacuum bottle to the catheter valve, opening the roller clamp to allow drainage, monitoring the bottle as it fills, and closing the clamp and disconnecting when drainage is complete. A fresh valve cap is then applied to the catheter. The entire process typically takes 5 to 15 minutes. Patients should follow the specific instructions provided by their physician and the PleurX instructions for use.

What does the proprietary safety valve do?
The PleurX Catheter's proprietary safety valve is designed to remain closed in both directions — preventing air from entering the pleural or peritoneal space through the catheter and preventing fluid from leaking out — when the catheter is not actively connected to a drainage line. The valve only opens when accessed with the specifically matched PleurX drainage line or vacuum bottle access tip. This design significantly reduces the risk of pneumothorax (air in the chest) and catheter-related infection between drainage sessions. Do not attempt to access the valve with any other device — doing so can permanently damage the valve.

What is the polyester cuff on the PleurX Catheter?
The polyester cuff is a small fiber cuff located on the catheter at the point where it passes under the skin at the insertion site. Over a period of weeks, fibrous tissue grows into the cuff — a process called tissue ingrowth — that anchors the catheter firmly in place and creates a biological seal around the catheter tract. This reduces the risk of catheter migration and substantially lowers the risk of ascending infection along the catheter tract, which is a meaningful safety feature for a device intended for prolonged indwelling use in immunocompromised patients.

Can PleurX be used for spontaneous pleurodesis?
Yes — the PleurX Catheter system is indicated for spontaneous pleurodesis, which occurs in approximately 46% of patients at a median of 26.5 days of use. Spontaneous pleurodesis refers to the natural resolution of the pleural space that can occur during ongoing drainage — once achieved, the catheter may be removed and further drainage may no longer be needed. The PleurX Catheter can also be used to deliver talc or bleomycin for chemical pleurodesis procedures in place of a chest tube. Discuss pleurodesis goals and likelihood with your thoracic physician.

What are the replacement bottle and supply SKUs for ongoing PleurX use?
For ongoing home management after the initial kit setup, replacement vacuum bottles are available separately: 50-7205B (500 mL replacement bottle with drainage line) and 50-7210 (1,000 mL replacement bottle with drainage line). Replacement valve caps are available as 50-7235A. Replacement procedure packs (containing the non-bottle supplies for each drainage session) are available as 50-7290. These replacement products allow patients to reorder individual components as needed rather than always purchasing complete kits.