eval of body fluids Flashcards
what are the two types of effusion
- transudate
- exudate
what is a transudative effusion
- acumulation of fluid in a body cavity due to filtration of blood serum across a physiologically intact vascular wall
- due to pressure differences between body compartments
what is an exudative effusion
- accumulation of fluid within a body cavity due to inflammation and vascular damage
which type of effusion requires further testing? What conditions are being r/o?
- exudative
- infection: cultures
- malignancy: cytology
- inflammatory disorder
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of protein fluid/serum ratio
- transudate: protein fluid/serum ratio < 0.5
- exudate: protein fluid/serum ratio > 0.5
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of total protein levels
- transudative: total protein level < 3 g/dl
- exudative: total protein level > 3 g/dl
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of color of fluid and number of WBC
- transudative: clear, thin fluid; WBC < 300/uL, mononuclear
- exudative: cloudy, thick, viscous fluid; WBC > 500/uL, neutrophils
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of LDH fluid/serum ratio
- transudative: LDH fluid/serum ratio < 0.6
- exudate: LDH fluid/serum ratio > 0.6
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of glucose concentration
- transudate: glucose equal to serum glucose
- exudate: glucose < serum glucose (< 60 mg/dl)
differentiate between transudative and exudative analysis in terms of pH
- transudate: pH = 7.4-7.5
- exudate: pH < or = 7.3-7.4
effusions with triglycerides/cholesterol can indicate?
- chylous effusion - thoracic duct impairtment: lymphoma, trauma, recent surgery
effusions with amylase can indicate
- esophageal rupture, pancreatitis, malignancy, bowel perforation
What are the most common causes of transudative pleural effusions
- CHF
- cirrhosis
- nephrosis
What are the most common causes of exudative pleural effusions
- parapneumonic effusion
- malignant effusion
What are the most common causes of parapneumonic effusion
- bacterial pneumonia
- lung abscess
- bronchiectasis
What are the most common causes of malignant effusions
- lung CA
- breast CA
- lymphoma
The following found in pleural effusion indicates what condition:
RBC > 100,000uL, Hct of fluid > or = 50% of peripheral blood smear, fluid is serosanginous in appearance.
hemothorax
What are the main causes of hemothorax
- trauma
- malignancy
- pulmonary embolism
what is empyema
- pus in pleural space
- WBC > 50,000 - 100,000
What type of cells would you expect to find in an empyema caused by inflammation/infection? caused by neoplasm or TB?
- inflammation/infection: > 50% neutrophils
- neoplasm or TB: >50% lymphocytes
Triglycerides seen in pleural fluid indicates
- chylous effusion seen in trauma, neoplasm, obstructed lymphatics
What is light’s criteria rule
- if at least one of the following three criteria is fulfilled, the fluid is defined as an exudate
- pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio > 0.5
- pleural fluid LDH/serum LDH ratio >0.6
- pleural fluid LDH > 2/3rds of the upper limits of the lab’s normal serum LDH
a pulmonary embolism can cause what type of effusion?
either a transudative or exudative effusion
A parapneumonic effusion should be sampled if it meets any of the following criteria
- it layers out > 25 mm of a lateral decubitus film
- it is loculated
- it is associated with thickened parietal pleura on CT
- it is clearly delineated by US
Differential diagnosis of pericardial effusions
- acute pericarditis
- autoimmune disease
- post-MI, cardiac surgery
- chest trauma
- malignancy
- mediastinal radiation
- renal failure
- myxedema
- aortic dissection
When is pericardiocentesis indicated
- tamponade
- not indicated for pericardial effusion without tamponade unless fluid is needed for diagnostic purposes
What labs should you order when assessing pericardial fluid
- CBC
- CMP
- thyroid function
- ANA
- gram stain
- cultures
- cytology
what is ascites
accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity