Novatech无菌滑石粉颗粒（STERITALC）

STERITALC® consists of talcum which is mined in France and is specifically processed for medical use (talcum pleurodesis).

STERITALC® is suited for all indications of pleurodesis. It is non-soluble and induces permanent pleurodesis. Compared with tetracyclines, talcum is more effective and less painful.

As a rule, for malignant indications 3 to 5 g are used, for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax 2 g are sufficient in most cases.

A critical side effect of talcum pleurodesis can be ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). A possible cause of ARDS may be the systemic dissemination of talcum. In some cases, after application in the pleural cavity, talcum was found in other organs (kidneys, spleen, liver), too. The literature assumes that there is a relation between the talcum particle size and the systemic dissemination of talcum: smaller talcum particles appear to disseminate more than larger ones¹⁾. The clinical picture also shows the effect of different particle sizes: talcum with a mean particle size below 15 µm induced stronger systemic and pulmonary inflammation reactions than talcum with a mean particle size of 25 µm.

STERITALC®, produced by Novatech, is specifically calibrated to a mean particle size of 25 µm in order to avoid systemic dissemination. Animal³⁾ and clinical studies²⁾ show the lesser systemic dissemination.

A multi-center study showed that STERITALC® with its calibrated particle size can be safely used for pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusions. None of more than 550 patients developed ARDS⁴⁾. The authors recommend to use no other talcum.

Another cause of ARDS may be a sepsis due to unsterile talcum, or talcum containing endotoxines⁵⁾. This, too, can be excluded when STERITALC® is used, because STERITALC® is free of endotoxines and comes sterile.