Author: Steven D Crane, Chris Wearmouth / Editors: Jason M Kendall, Jason B Lee / Reviewer: Chris Wearmouth / Codes: / Published: 05/04/2022
Description
This session looks at the assessment and management of the adult patient presenting with a pleural effusion in the Emergency Department.
After completing this session you will be able to:
- Describe the pathophysiology of non-traumatic pleural effusion
- Interpret fluid aspirate results to distinguish a transudate from an exudate
- Identify patients with pleural effusions that would benefit from urgent pleural fluid aspiration within the emergency department.
- Describe a rational approach to the treatment of patients presenting with pleural effusion to the emergency department
References
- Boka K. Pleural Effusion. E-medicine. 2018. [Accessed March 2022].
- Sahn SA. The value of pleural fluid analysis. Am J Med Sci. 2008 Jan;335(1):7-15.
- Rahman NM. et al. Local anaesthetic thoracoscopy: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii54-60.
- Light RW. Parapneumonic effusions and empyema. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2006;3(1):75-80.
- Roberts ME, Neville E, Berrisford RG, Antunes G, Ali NJ; BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group. Management of a malignant pleural effusion: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii32-40.
- Noppen M. Normal volume and cellular contents of pleural fluid. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2001 Jul;7(4):180-2.
- Miserocchi G. Physiology and pathophysiology of pleural fluid turnover. Eur Respir J. 1997 Jan;10(1):219-25.
- Davies HE, Davies RJ, Davies CW; BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group. Management of pleural infection in adults: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii41-53.
- Chen KY, Hsueh PR, et al. A 10-year experience with bacteriology of acute thoracic empyema: emphasis on Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients with diabetes mellitus. Chest. 2000 Jun;117(6):1685-9.
- Hooper C, Lee YC, Maskell N; BTS Pleural Guideline Group. Investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii4-17.
- Havelock T, Teoh R, Laws D, Gleeson F; BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group. Pleural procedures and thoracic ultrasound: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010 Aug;65 Suppl 2:ii61-76.
- BTS Pleural Disease Guideline 2010, British Thoracic Society, 2010.
