A poorly kempt, chronic alcoholic with a history of intravenous drug use presents to ED. He is confused, febrile, tachycardic, tachypenoeic and hypoxic.
What does this ultrasound clip of his chest show?
Transverse View
Reveal answer
- There is a large pleural effusion.
- The lung is collapsed with a few small echogenic aerated patches remaining.
- Numerous fibrinous strands are attached to the visceral pleural surface and are waving in the fluid as the transmitted cardiac pulsations move the lung.
- The features are consistent with a fibrino-purulent empyema, which was confirmed on aspiration of the fluid.
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