Pleural effusion

Question 1

What is pleural effusion and causes

Answer 1

pleural effusion= fluid between the visceral and parietal pleura

can either be exudate or transudate

exudate– high Protein (>30g/L)–Pneumonia (main cause), TB, abscess
Cancer- Mesothelioma, SCLC (only 1 side)
pancreatitis, PE,
Yellow nail syndrome

Transudate (prot low) <30g/L
Heart failure (most common)
Hypoalbuminiae (liver fail, Nephrotic, malabsorption)
Hypothyroidism

Question 2

Sx and diagnosis of Pleural effusion

Answer 2

Sx of SOB, cough, Pleural chest pain, + absent breath sound of affected side + DULL percussion

often leads to XRAY-> white out

diagnositic Pleural tap- protein >30-exudate, protein <30 transudate

Question 3

Mx of pleural effusion

Answer 3

Need to treat cause-
pneumoniae, cancer, TB, Pancreatitis etc
Or CHF, Cirrhosis, Nephrotic, etc

mainly for effusion-therapeutic thoracentisis, Diuretics