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Pleural Effusion clinical trials and research
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 15 Pleural Effusion clinical trials that are recruiting, at sites in 12 countries (most in United States (2), France (2), United Kingdom (2)). By phase: Phase 4 (1). There are also 3 NIH-funded research projects on Pleural Effusion, with $2.2 million in listed awards. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 15Clinical trials
- 3NIH research projects
- 12Countries
Newest Pleural Effusion clinical trials
All recruiting trials (15)
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Feasibility of a disposable flexible bronchoscope for thoracoscopy compared with a semi-rigid pleuroscope in pleural effusion
This study tests whether a single-use flexible bronchoscope can be used safely and effectively for medical thoracoscopy in patients with pleural effusion, compared with the standard semi-rigid pleuroscope.
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Bubble PEP plus Segmental Breathing versus Incentive Spirometry for children with pleural effusion
This trial will test whether bubble positive expiratory pressure with segmental breathing helps children aged 5–16 with pleural effusion breathe better than incentive spirometry.
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Once-daily intrapleural enzyme treatment for complicated pleural infections
This will see if giving tPA and DNase once a day through a chest tube works as well as giving them twice a day for people with complicated pleural infections.
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Pleural fluid biomarker testing to help diagnose lung adenocarcinoma
This project will test whether measuring new molecular markers in pleural fluid can help diagnose lung adenocarcinoma in adults who need thoracentesis.
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Air introduction during pleural effusion drainage for trapped lung
This study is testing if adding air during the drainage of fluid from the chest can help adults with a trapped lung feel less pain and have a better experience compared to the usual method.
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16F vs 24F chest drain after minimally invasive lobectomy or segmentectomy
This study will test whether using a smaller 16F chest drain causes less postoperative pain than the standard 24F drain for adults having minimally invasive lobectomy or segmentectomy for lung cancer.
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Local anesthesia thoracoscopy for diagnosing pleural effusion
This study tests if using local anesthesia during a thoracoscopy can help diagnose suspected cancer-related fluid buildup in the chest faster and more comfortably than standard tests.
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Using confocal laser endomicroscopy during medical thoracoscopy to diagnose pleural disease
This trial tests whether using confocal laser endomicroscopy during thoracoscopy helps doctors find the cause of unexplained fibrinous pleurisy in adults.
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LuAna AI help to detect problems on chest X-rays
We will test whether using LuAna, an AI tool, helps doctors find chest X-ray problems more often in adults with respiratory symptoms.
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Using portable dynamic chest X-ray in the ICU
This study is testing a new portable chest X-ray system in the ICU to see if it can give better pictures of lung movement and function compared to regular X-rays and CT scans for critically ill patients.
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Comparing two methods for draining fluid from the lungs in emergency departments
This study tests which method works better for draining fluid from the lungs in emergency departments: doing it manually or letting gravity do the work.
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Training medical students to perform thoracentesis using augmented reality
This study is testing if using augmented reality training helps medical students perform thoracentesis better than traditional training methods.
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Investigating how draining fluid from the lungs affects breathing in patients with pleural effusion
This study is trying to see how draining fluid from the lungs affects breathing and breathlessness in adults with pleural effusion.
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Evaluation of patients with pleural effusion
This study looks at the causes and treatment of fluid buildup in the chest for hospitalized patients to help doctors improve care and understand the issue better.
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Observing pneumonia and pleural effusion in hospitalized children
This study looks at how common pneumonia and fluid around the lungs are in hospitalized children to understand the causes, symptoms, and how well treatments work.
NIH-funded research (3)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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Extracellular Vesicle Clues to Diagnose and Predict Malignant Pleural Effusion
A study at Vanderbilt aims to use tiny particles shed by cancer cells in pleural fluid to improve diagnosis and prognosis of malignant pleural effusion.
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Improving cancer testing from pleural (chest) fluid
Researchers are using DNA found in chest fluid to try to make cancer testing faster and less invasive for people with advanced cancers that cause pleural effusions.
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Analyzing best practices for testing fluid samples from lung cancer patients
This study is looking at ways to make it easier for people with advanced cancer and fluid buildup in their lungs to get important genetic information about their tumors, using a simple procedure that removes the fluid, so doctors can make better treatment choices.
Related topics
Quick answers
How many Pleural Effusion clinical trials are recruiting right now?
15, as of November 12, 2026. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Where are these trials running?
In 12 countries. The most sites are in United States (2 trials), France (2 trials), United Kingdom (2 trials), Denmark (1 trial), Pakistan (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.
What phases are they in?
Phase 4: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.
How do I join one?
Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.
Find the studies that fit you
A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.