Pleural Effusion Flashcards
1
Q
What is another term for pleural effusion?
A
hydrothorax
2
Q
What is a pleural effusion?
A
fluid accumulation in the pleural space
3
Q
Generally speaking, what causes a pleural effusion?
A
abnormal seepage and/or drainage into the membrane
4
Q
What types of fluid can cause a pleural effusion? What are the corresponding terms for these?
A
- exudate (fluid from inflammation, has high protein content)
- transudate (non-inflammatory fluid, has a lower protein content)
- empyema = purulent fluid
- hemothorax = blood
- chylothorax = lymph
5
Q
More specifically, what causes pleural effusions?
A
- usually congestive heart failure
- other causes: infection, cancer, pulmonary infarct (because obstruction, which means there is also congestion)
6
Q
What is the pathology of pleural effusion?
A
- fluid enters the tissue from parietal capillaries
- fluid drains into the parietal lymphatics
- if fluid entering exceeds drainage, fluid will move into the pleural space = pleural effusion
7
Q
What are the manifestations of a pleural effusion?
A
- dry cough (because it irritates the pleural membranes)
- dypsnea (if the pressure from the fluid exceeds the air pressure then it is difficult for air to enter)
- pleuritic pain (pressure stretches the pleural membrane)
- lung compression
8
Q
How is a pleural effusion diagnosed?
A
via x-ray, US or CT
9
Q
How is a pleural effusion treated?
A
- treat the cause
- thoracentesis and fluid analysis (will help determining the cause)
- chest tube (if the fluid keeps building up, this will give you time to fix the underlying cause)
10
Q
Why wouldn’t you use volume expanders to treat a pleural effusion?
A
- it is a much smaller space (you aren’t losing as much fluid as you are in ascites)
- also the problem may not be due to hydrostatic or osmotic pressure… ex. if you are losing blood, it may coagulate and even if you give volume expanders you can’t pull clotted blood back into the vessels
