The invention discloses a method of treating a patient for pleural effusion comprising percutaneously delivering an adhesive material to a pleural space of the patient. Suitable adhesive materials for performing any of the embodiments of the methods of the invention can be selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, collagen, poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolide), cyanoacrylates, glutaraldehyde, PEG, protein, and polysaccharide and derivatives thereof. The invention also discloses a pleural effusion treatment apparatus comprising an adhesive material adapted to adhere pleural membranes defining a pleural space and a pleural space access member adapted to deliver the adhesive material to the pleural space.