Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Saline Irrigation as an Add-On Therapy for Retained Pleural Infections [LYTICS +]

This intervention, Pleural Saline Irrigation, involves the administration of up to 250 mL of sterile saline solution into the pleural cavity through a chest tube immediately following each intrapleural tPA/DNase (IPFT) therapy session. The saline irrigation is intended to aid in clearing infected pleural fluid and reducing pleural effusion volume. This maneuver is repeated based on the treating physician's criteria, differentiating it from standard care, which includes only antibiotics, chest tube placement, and IPFT without saline irrigation. The irrigation is expected to enhance infection resolution and may impact chest tube duration and the frequency of pleural interventions.