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Pleural Effusion Research Paper

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What is pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is known as a build-up of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.
Below is a picture of what the lungs will look like with the excess pleural effusion present: http://www.medicinenet.com/pleural_effusion_fluid_in_the_chest_or_on_lung/article.htm

There is usually the presence of 10-20ml of pleural fluid, this is lower in protein ( 15% above the cutoff levels for Light’s criteria.
ULN = upper limit of normal.
Data modified from Light RW: Pleural effusion. New England Journal of Medicine 346:1971–1977, 2002.
Whether a transudative pleural effusion is unilateral or bilateral it can be treated without extensive evaluation, however exudative requires much investigation.
Other causes:
Cause Comments
Transudate
Heart failure …show more content…

Symptomatic effusions can be treated for reaccumulating or repeated effusions, by the process of thoracentesis. The amount of fluid to be removed has no set limits, and the removal of fluid can continue until the effusion is drained or the patient then develops chest tightness, chest pain, or severe coughing.
For pleuritic pain NSAIDs can be given or other analgesics, on some occasions a short course of oral opioids is given.
However effusions that are considered chronic, recurrent and causing symptoms is teated with pleurodesis or intermittent drainage with an indwelling catheter. The effusions caused by cancer and pneumonia however may require additional specific measures.
The actual prognosis however is mainly dependant upon the underlying disease. Complications may present, these may be:
• After thoracentesis there may be presence of air in the chest cavity (pneumothorax)
Lung

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