Pleural Effusion (hydrothorax) Flashcards
pleural effusion
accumulation of fluid b/w pleura (outside lungs)
types of fluid
- exudate
- transudate
- empyema
- hemothorax
- chylothorax
exudate
inflammatory fluid w/ inc protein count (plasma, proteins, & defense cells)
transudate
non-inflammatory fluid w/ dec protein count
- inc CHP or dec OP within capillaries causes fluid to shift into pleural space
- the fluid is transudate
empyema
- abundance of pus in fluid - - purulent exudate d/t infection
hemothorax
if blood fills pleural space d/t injury to blood vessel
chylothorax
if lymph fills pleural space
etiology
- usually d/t CHF
- lung infection
- lung CA
- pulmonary infarction
how does CHF cause pleural effusion
CHF causes pooling of blood as vessels become congested d/t heart failing to continue blood flow –> inc CHP –> fluid (transudate) pushed from capillaries into interstitial space of membranes and then into pleural space/cavity
how does lung infection cause pleural effusion
results in inflm –> inc cap permb –> shift of purulent exudate into pleural space
how does lung CA cause pleural effusion
results in inflm –> exudate (inflm fluid w/ high protein count)
how does pulmonary infarction cause pleural effusion
injury d/t ischemia/CA/infection –> inflm –> fluid shift (exudate)
patho
- fluid enters into capillaries of parietal membranes
- fluid drains into parietal lymphatic vessels
- if entry exceeds drainage then fluid accum leads to pleural effusion
mnfts
r/t cause & vol
- dyspnea
- pleuritic pain
why does dyspnea mnft
d/t impaired ability to inflate lungs
- dec gas exchange –> symptoms of hypoxia
- deg of dyspnea depends on vol
