Pleural Effusion

Question 1

Pleural Effusion

Answer 1

Lung is covered by Visceral Pleura and then by parietal pleura. The fluid build up in pleural space pushes on the lungs and creates pressure
Symptoms - dyspnea, chest pain, dry cough

Question 2

Pleural effusion diagnosis and treatment

Answer 2

Diagnoses - CXR (shows less air space - black color,indicative of pleural effusion, CT scan, Blood culture to detect any blood infection
Treatment - Thoracentesis, Pleuroperitoneal shunt (fluid gets shunted to abdominal cavity and excreted out of body)
Underlying conditions are treated to treat Pleural effusion, if left untreated it can lead to Empysema (infection of fluid)-> Inflammation -> scanning of lungs, overtime the fluid can become cottage cheese like consistency -> hard to drain, hard to treat -> interact with blood vessels and cause sepsis.

Question 3

Transudate and Exudate fluid

Answer 3

Exudate fluid - inflammation, example - Pneumonia. Vessels swell up -> Interendothelial space increases (fluid ad proteins leak)
Transudate fluid - change in hydrostatic pressure, less plasma proteins in blood -> fluid leaks through vessels. Fluid buildup from CHF -> left in lungs
If fluid has increased proteins and larger particles -> Exudate fluid
If fluid has decreased proteins and/ no proteins -> Transudate fluid

Question 4

Neurovascular bundle

Answer 4

VAN bundle - vein, artery and nerve to be cautious with Thoracentesis. Proper way of doing Thoracentesis - Ultrasound guidance, inserted above 9th rib to avoid hitting VAN.