5. Unilateral pleural effusion Flashcards
1
Q
How common is it?
A
Common
2
Q
What causes it?
A
T = increased venous pressure (heart failure, pericarditis) or hypoproteinaemia (cirrhosis, malabsorption) E = leaky pleural capillaries secondary to infection, inflammation or malignancy
3
Q
What risk factors are there?
A
Pre-existing conditions listed in causes
Smoking
4
Q
What treatments are there?
A
Drainage if symptomatic
Pleurodesis if recurrent
Surgery if recurrent and increasing pleural thickness
5
Q
How would you investigate?
A
CXR
USS (guiding aspiration)
Diagnostic aspiration, cytology of sample
Pleural biopsy
6
Q
What complications are there?
A
Pleural scarring
Pneumothorax
Empyema
