Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Pleural Effusion (Clinical Presentation (Chest expansion reduced on side…
Pleural Effusion
-
Treatment
-
-
-
Pleurodesis - an injection that causes the adhesion of the visceral and parietal pleura to help prevent reaccumulation of the effusion
-
-
Pathophysiology
Transudates (transparent i.e. less protein) - occurs when the balance of hydrostatic forces in the chest favour the accumulation of pleural fluid i.e. increased pressure due to the backing up of blood in left sides congestive heart failure
Hypoproteinaemia - cirrhosis resulting in low albumin, hypoalbuminaemia, nephrotic syndrome
-
High venous pressure - heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, fluid overload
-
Exudates (excludes proteins) - occurs due to the increased permeability and thus leakiness of pleural space and/or capillaries usually as a result of inflammation, infection or malignancy
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The build up of fluid results in a pressure increase that place pressure on the lungs resulting in breathing difficulties
Diagnosis
Ultrasound
Useful in identifying the presence of pleural fluid and in guiding diagnostic or therapeutic aspiration
Diagnostic aspiration
-
Appearance of pleural fluid is noted:
- Purulent in empyema (pus effusion)
- Turbid (cloudy/opaque) in infected effusion
- Milky in chylothorax (lymph fluid effusion)
-
Sample is sent for pH (acid = infection), cytology (differential white cell count and malignant cells) and microbiology (gram stain and culture) if infection suspected
-
-
-
-