Talc Pleurodesis Risks and Litigations
Talc pleurodesis poses numerous health risks to patients, including mesothelioma from asbestos-contaminated talc. Our award-winning mesothelioma lawyers won a $39 million verdict on behalf of a man who developed mesothelioma from asbestos contamination of the talc used in his pleurodesis surgery.
If you had a talc pleurodesis procedure and later developed mesothelioma, call our firm now at (866) 735-2576 or contact us online to schedule a free case review. You might be entitled to substantial compensation.
What Is a Talc Pleurodesis Procedure?
The pleura is a thin membrane of tissue that lines the outer surface of each lung and the inner surface of the chest wall. It is comprised of mesothelial cells, which are also known as the “target cell” for mesothelioma. The pleural tissue that covers the outside of the lung is called the “visceral pleura,” whereas the pleural tissue lining the chest wall is known as the “parietal pleura.” The space between the visceral and parietal pleura is called the pleural space.
Talc pleurodesis is a medical procedure during which doctors instill talc into the pleural space, and directly upon the pleural tissues (composed of mesothelial cells), via a chest tube. In this context, the talc is known as a “sclerosant” or “sclerosing agent.” The purpose of instilling talc into the pleural space is to cause an inflammatory response that closes the pleural space by fusing the visceral and parietal pleura together.
Importantly, talc is not the only sclerosant available to achieve pleurodesis. Alternatives to talc include iodopovidone, bleomycin, doxycycline, minocycline, and silver nitrate.
Why Do Doctors Recommend Talc Pleurodesis?
Talc pleurodesis is most often used to treat patients suffering from malignant pleural effusions, though it is sometimes used to treat patients with recurring pneumothorax but no preexisting cancer.
- Pleural effusion — fluid accumulation between the visceral and parietal pleura due to lung cancer, heart failure, cirrhosis, and other conditions
- Pneumothorax — lung collapse
When introduced into the pleural space, talc creates an inflammatory response that fuses the parietal and visceral pleura together, closing the pleural space to prevent further fluid accumulation or lung collapse.
The manufacturers and suppliers of the “pharmaceutical talc” injected into patients via pleurodesis have historically failed to disclose to patients, doctors, and the medical community even the possibility that their talc may contain asbestos. In some instances, manufacturers and suppliers have warranted their pleurodesis talc products to be “asbestos-free,” despite lacking sufficient testing or data to back up such representations. As a result, the doctors, hospitals, and hospital pharmacies prescribing and purchasing talc for use in pleurodesis are typically unaware that, by instilling talc within their patients’ pleural space, they are also instilling asbestos directly upon the mesothelial cells.
Our $39 million verdict was the first court case to prove talc pleurodesis may lead to mesothelioma. As the risk becomes more well-known, doctors may increasingly use talc alternatives pleurodesis or at least provide better information to patients pertaining to the risks of pleurodesis, which include the potential for instilling an instantaneous and intense dose of asbestos directly upon the pleura if talc is used.
What Is the Process for a Talc Pleurodesis Procedure?
Medical providers may perform mechanical or chemical talc pleurodesis.
In chemical pleurodesis, a specialist first drains fluid from the pleural space before injecting a talc slurry (talc disbursed into a solution), or some other sclerosing agent, into the pleural space through a chest tube. Chemical pleurodesis can be done under local anesthesia. If the doctor is already performing a thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy), in which a thin tube with a small camera is inserted into the chest wall to enable the doctors to visualize the pleura and pleural space, they may inject the talc slurry during this procedure. Formerly, talc was blown (insufflated) into the chest via a tube during what was called “video-assisted thorascopic talc insufflation” (also known as “talc poudrage”). This method is more invasive and often requires general anesthesia.
During mechanical pleurodesis, the doctor manually irritates the pleural membrane, such as by abrading the pleural tissue with a medical sponge. Mechanical pleurodesis may induce pleural symphysis (adhesion of the visceral and parietal pleura) without a sclerosing agent.
If complete pleural symphysis does not occur, the pleurodesis may fail, resulting in the pleurodesis being repeated.
Risks and Complications Associated with a Talc Pleurodesis Procedure
Complications associated with talc pleurodesis include the following:
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS (a systemic inflammatory disease)
- Fever
- Pulmonary embolism
- Anaphylactic reaction
- Pleural infection
- Complications of general anesthesia
- Infection at the incision site
- Pneumonia
- Re-expansion pulmonary edema
- Pleurodesis failure
The risk of a systemic inflammatory response increases with smaller particle size. This may be due to the increased ability of smaller particles to enter the bloodstream and tissues.
Can Talc Pleurodesis Cause Cancer?
Yes, talc pleurodesis can cause cancer, including mesothelioma, due to asbestos contamination of talc. Our recent $39 million verdict is the first court case proving the connection between asbestos-tainted talc and mesothelioma in a patient treated with talc pleurodesis. Asbestos-contaminated talc has also been linked to lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and other cancers.
Cancer from asbestos exposure typically develops over decades. However, most asbestos exposure involves inhalation of asbestos fibers. The fibers slowly build up in the pleura until mesothelioma develops. In talc pleurodesis, by contrast, talc is applied directly to the pleura, the same tissue where mesothelioma forms. The instantaneous application of high concentrations of asbestos fibers directly to the pleura may result in a shorter latency period between exposure and diagnosis, as we saw in our case.
Talc has been used for pleurodesis since the 1930s. Doctors routinely use it to treat breathing problems in premature infants, and this could explain rare instances of mesothelioma in children. Now that our case has shed light on the risk of cancer from talc pleurodesis, we expect to see more cases.
How Lanier Law Firm Secured a $39 Million Verdict for a Talc Pleurodesis Surgical Procedure
On September 13, 2024, our renowned asbestos exposure attorneys won a landmark $39 million verdict in Boston in the first asbestos exposure case to connect talc pleurodesis to mesothelioma. It was the largest asbestos verdict in Massachusetts history. This successful mesothelioma lawsuit opens the door for other victims of exposure to asbestos-containing medical talc to get justice.
Our client was an active 61-year-old man who underwent talc pleurodesis for a recurrent collapsed lung in 2014. Seven years later, he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
The First Reported Case
At trial, one of the biggest obstacles faced by our lawyers was the lack of prior reports in the scientific literature of mesothelioma occurring after talc pleurodesis. Defense attorneys have long used a similar tactic in cosmetic talc cases, suggesting to the jury that the lack of cases published in scientific journals demands the conclusion that talc does not cause mesothelioma. To address this issue head-on, we retained a dream team of the world’s foremost experts on asbestos exposure and talc. They explained that the lack of prior cases reported in the literature does not reflect a lack of cases as much as a lack of research and data. They also explained to the jury that it does not matter whether asbestos comes from industrial products, Navy ships, automobiles, or talc; if it reaches the mesothelial cells that comprise the pleura, it can cause mesothelioma. Thanks to our verdict, we now have a reported case of mesothelioma from talc pleurodesis, and defense attorneys can no longer argue there are no reported cases.
Reduced Latency
Our client developed mesothelioma seven years after the procedure. Many experts, including those testifying on our client’s behalf, have testified that the minimum mesothelioma latency period from exposure to diagnosis is 10 years, and the disease more often shows up 20 to 40 years after exposure. This issue presented the unique challenge of conveying to the jury how the manner of exposure via pleurodesis, rather than inhalation, produced mesothelioma in our client within a shorter time than cases involving inhalation of asbestos:
“Our experts were able to explain the concept of latency in mesothelioma and the science behind it. They also said, ‘look, my testimony in prior cases has been that the minimum latency period for mesothelioma is at least 10 years from exposure, and that’s still true when asbestos is breathed. But this case is different.’ They explained that there are volumes of studies and experiments where animals were injected with asbestos and developed mesothelioma quicker than animals that breathed asbestos. There are also in vitro studies where asbestos is directly applied to cells in a dish, and our experts said that what happens is that the cells rapidly become cancerous. So our experts were able to explain the science showing that, when you apply asbestos directly to mesothelial tissue, you will develop mesothelioma or it will produce mesotheliomas in a shorter latency period than breathing it.” – Mark Linder
Establishing Liability
This case presented unusual challenges in identifying the manufacturers and suppliers of the talc used in our client’s pleurodesis. The client was under general anesthesia during his pleurodesis and did not know the product that was used. Undeterred, our asbestos exposure attorneys conducted their own investigation, took depositions of witnesses, and scoured the client’s medical file, as well as years of old regulatory filings. Through these efforts, our attorneys were able prove the exact product used in the client’s pleurodesis, as well as each company involved in the chain of production and distribution of the product.
A Team Effort
Our client was exposed to a dangerous product without his knowledge or consent and deserved substantial compensation. However, no one had ever tried this type of case. We partnered with local counsel Chris Duffy of Duffy Law and trial attorney Danny Kraft of Meirowitz & Wasserberg to ensure justice for our client.
“Our experts were able to explain the concept of latency in mesothelioma and the science behind it. They also said, ‘look, my testimony in prior cases has been that the minimum latency period for mesothelioma is at least 10 years from exposure, and that’s still true when asbestos is breathed. But this case is different.’ They explained that there are volumes of studies and experiments where animals were injected with asbestos and developed mesothelioma quicker than animals that breathed asbestos. There are also in vitro studies where asbestos is directly applied to cells in a dish, and our experts said that what happens is that the cells rapidly become cancerous. So our experts were able to explain the science showing that, when you apply asbestos directly to mesothelial tissue, you will develop mesothelioma or it will produce mesotheliomas in a shorter latency period than breathing it.” – Mark Linder
Contact Us For a Free Case Evaluation
If you underwent talc pleurodesis and later developed mesothelioma, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Our historic verdict sets a precedent that paves the way for you to get the justice you deserve. We offer a free, confidential case review and charge no upfront fees. You only pay if we win.
Call us at (866) 735-2576 or contact us online to talk to our experienced mesothelioma lawyers today.
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