Malignant Effusion Program
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Overview
The Malignant Effusion Program is an outpatient clinic that helps people manage symptoms caused by fluid build-up in the chest or abdomen.
Patients of this clinic have fluid build-up in the chest or abdomen. This fluid can occur as a result of cancer and may cause discomfort or difficulty breathing. Our goal is to relieve these symptoms by inserting a catheter that allows fluid to be drained at home.
Services are available across the Champlain LHIN. The clinic is located at the General Campus of The Ottawa Hospital in the Cancer Assessment Clinic.
Terms
Pleural effusion
A pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid around a lung. It can affect one or both lungs. The fluid takes up space that the lung needs to expand and hold air, which can make breathing difficult. This often causes shortness of breath *(dyspnea). Many people with cancer develop pleural effusions.
Malignant ascites
Malignant ascites is a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, usually caused by cancer. The amount of fluid can vary. It may cause a feeling of fullness, nausea, and sometimes shortness of breath because the fluid pushes on the diaphragm, limiting how much a lung can expand.
Services
Each patient who comes to the clinic is assessed by a physician and a nurse to determine if a catheter will help manage symptoms.
Before the appointment, patients may need a chest x-ray and breathing tests. If a catheter is recommended, the physician will insert it during the clinic visit. The nurse will drain the fluid and monitor the patient. Afterward, the patient is referred to home care (CCAC). The home care nurse will visit three times a week to drain fluid until the catheter can be removed.
Patients return to the clinic for follow-up visits at two weeks, six weeks, and as needed. The team may also refer patients to other supportive programs, such as:
- Dyspnea Management Clinic.
- Palliative Rehabilitation Program.
- Supportive and Palliative Care Outpatient Clinics.
- Psychosocial Oncology Program.
Team
Dr. Kayvan Amjadi
Physician, Respirology
Lynn Kachuik, RN
Advanced Practice Nurse, Palliative Care, Administrative Lead
Lorraine Cake, RN
Registered NurseReferrals
Patients can request a referral, but all referrals must be signed by a physician and faxed to us.
Please include recent test results (such as chest x-ray or CT scan) to avoid duplication.
613-739-6993
Contact us
Malignant Effusion Clinic
613-737-8899 ext. 79679 (Program clerk)
613-737-8899 ext. 79987 (Program nurse)
613-759-9654 (Pager)
The Ottawa Hospital – General Campus
Cancer Assessment Clinic
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6