Pulmonology

Question 1

What are the main causes of exudative vs transudative pleural effusions?

Answer 1

transudative: CHF (imbalance in oncotic pressure)
exudative: malignancy (pleural and lung inflammation or impaired pleural lymphatic drainage)

Question 2

What will PE for pleural effusion show?

Answer 2

↓ breath sounds + dull percussion + ↓ tactile fremitus

dull because there is fluid in the lungs

Question 3

What is the light criteria for Transudate Pleural Effusion?

Answer 3

Pleural: Serum protein <0.5

Pleural: Serum LDH <0.6

Pleural Fluid LDH <2/3 upper limit of normal

Question 4

What is the light criteria for Exudativre Pleural Effusion?

Answer 4

Pleural: Serum Protein >0.5

Pleural: Serum LDH >0.6

PLeural fluid LDH >0.6

Question 5

Heart Failure

Cirrhosis

Nephrotic Syndrome

PE

Causes of which type of pleural effusion?

Answer 5

Transudate

Question 6

• Malignancy
• Bacterial/Viral Pneumonia
• TB
• PE
• Pancreatitis
• Esophageal rupture
• Collagen vascular dz
• Hemothorax

Causes of which type of Pleural Effusion?

Answer 6

Exudative

Question 7

What will CXR for Pleural effusion show?

Answer 7

blunting of costophrenic angle