Dyspnea (Malignant Pleural Effusion) Clinic

Referral Form

The Dyspnea Clinic, based at the Calgary Cancer Centre (Foothill Campus) and the South Health Campus, is a specialized clinic aiming to offer comprehensive outpatient management of patients suffering from malignant pleural effusions (MPE).

Management of MPEs is centered on the use of tunneled pleural catheters (PleurxTMsystem) which allows successful outpatient treatment with minimal complications in the majority of patients. The clinic’s goal is to assess patients within 1-2 weeks of receiving a referral. Patients seen in clinic can undergo thoracentesis, pleural biopsy or Pleurx catheter insertion during their clinic visit.

Calgary has one of the largest single centre experiences world-wide for this technique which has become the preferred treatment for MPE in Calgary, over and above chest tube or thoracoscopic pleurodesis.

Please direct referrals via: Connect Care (use the Ambulatory Referral to Pulmonology, select "CGY TBCC Dyspnea Clinic / Calgary Tom Baker Cancer Center Dyspnea Clinic)" or Fax completed referral form along with relevant documentation to Calgary Pulmonary Central Access and Triage 403-270-8407.

Urgent referral: *Mark referral urgent*and fax to TBCC Dyspnea Clinic at 403-270-8407 and call triage coordinator to discuss at 403-521-3511.

P: 403-521-3511
F: 403-270-8407

Clinic Location Information