Disease States 2 Flashcards
accumulation of fluid between parietal and visceral pleura
Pleural Effusion
MC pleural dz in US
Pleural Effusion types
excess fluid production (transudative)
decreased fluid absorption (exudative)
Pleural space fluid
typically 20 cc
maintained by hydrostatic and oncotic forces, lymphatic drainage
Pleural Effusion common etiology
- altered permeability of pleural membranes or capillaries/vascular disruption
- reduction in intravascular oncotic pressure (nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis)
- increased capillary hydrostatic pressure (HF)
Pleural Effusion less common etiology
- reduction in pleural space (trapped lung)
- decreased lymphatic drainage or complete blockage (malignancy, trauma)
- increased peritoneal fluid with migration across diaphragm via lymphatics or structural defect
Pleural Effusion s/s
progressively worsening dyspnea (as effusion is more severe)
chest wall pain and mild, non-productive cough
general PE findings for Pleural Effusion
found at >300 cc
dullness to percussion
egophony
superior aspect and diminished/absent sounds
*** must confirm with imaging
imaging of pleural space CXR
250cc of fluid to see effusion, 500 mL will obscure diaphragm
decubitus films
decubitus films
CXR with pt lying on side
clarifies if fluid is free flowing or loculated (in pockets)
loculated = complicated/empyema
imaging of pleural space CT scan
differentiates between effusion and atelectasis
done to evaluate for presence of malignancy
imaging of pleural space US
quantifies amount of pleural fluid
guiding diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis
Pleural Effusion care
observation alone if suspected cause and no symptoms
unknown cause = thoracentesis
when is a thoracentesis indicated in Pleural Effusion
a new effusion of unknown cause
drain pleural fluid
therapeutic/symptoms relief
thoracentesis procedure
+/- US
done by IR, pulmonology, and CV surgery
Pulse ox monitored, no sedation, post procedure CXR and analysis
transudative pleural effusion
caused by imbalance of hydrostatic or oncotic forces
MAY BE movement of peritoneal fluid
exudative pleural effusion
caused by inflammation of the pleura or blockage of lymphatic drainage
determine type of pleural effusion
LIGHT’s criteria
evaluation of pleural fluid chemistry via thoracentesis
misclassify transudates as exudates in 15-30% of cases (diuretics HF)
LIGHT’s criteria measures
serum and pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and protein
ratio of serum to pleural fluid
LIGHT’s criteria
- pleural fluid to serum protein ratio > 0.5
- Pleural fluid LDH to serum LDH ratio > 0.6
- Pleural fluid LDH > 2/3 upper limit of normal
AT LEAST 1 = Exudate (more present, more likely)
ALL NEG - transudative
tests on fluid when diagnosis unknown? (6)
- fluid glucose
- fluid pH
- cell count and differential
- cytology
- gram stain and culture
- color and consistency
specific pleural fluid test
- fluid amylase (ruptured esophagus or pancreatic origin)
- fluid triglyceride (milky - chylothorax)
- ANA/RF - collagen vascular dz/ connective tissue disorder
transudative etiologies
- HF
- Atelectasis (CA or PE)
- Hepatic hydrothorax (cirrhosis)
- hypoalbuminemia (protein calorie malnutrition, liver failure, nephrotic syndrome)
- peritoneal dialysis
- myxedema coma
- urinothorax
- migration of devices/iatrogenic
exudative pleural effusion etiologies
COMMON (7)
PNA Malignancy Tuberculosis collagen vascular disorders (SLE, RA) pancreatitis Empyema pulmonary embolus
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance:
frank purulence
empyema
lung abscess
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance
milky opalescent fluid
chylothorax
lymphatic CA obstruction, thoracic duct injury
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance
grossly bloody fluid
trauma, CA, asbestos
must get Hct of fluid – >50% serum = hemothorax, chest tube
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance
high LDH
> 1000 IU/L
empyema, malignancy, collagen vascular dz
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance
glucose
<30- empyema, rheumatoid
30-50 = SLE
clues of pleural effusion fluid based on appearance
wbc
50-70% lymphs= malignancy
> 90 = TB, sarcoid, TA, chylothorax
mild pleural effusion medical tx
HF - loop diuretic
parapnumonic effusion - ABX
medical intervention prior to invasive procedure