FFS: Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is fluid accumulation in the pleural space, classified as transudate or exudate. Diagnosis is clinical and radiological; aspiration guides cause and therapy.
Pleural effusion
Pleural Fluid Analysis
Pleural fluid analysis distinguishes exudates from transudates using Light’s criteria. Further testing clarifies cause, guiding management of infection, malignancy, or systemic disease.
CXR Case 153
A 63 yo lady presents with dyspnoea on a background of metastatic breast cancer. LITFL Top 150 CXR
Pleural Effusion Case 001
A young patient with a history of sarcoma presents with shortness of breath. What does this clip show?
Pleural Effusion Case 002
A 27 year old man presents with fevers and increasing shortness of breath presents to your department. He has a vasculitic peripheral rash and feels generally unwell.
Pleural Effusion
Pleural Effusion secondary to blood; exudate; transudate; and chyle
Ultrasound Case 025
A 70 year old man presents with gradually increasing shortness of breath. He has had some weight loss. His CXR shows a very large left side probable pleural effusion. You wonder whether it is consolidation, solid tumour, a simple pleural effusion or a complex pleural effusion.
Lung ultrasound: Empyema
Empyema is a purulent pleural effusion. Seeding of the pleural space by bacteria or rarely fungi is usually from extension from adjacent pulmonary infection.
Lung ultrasound: Pleural effusion
The aims of ultrasound guided assessment of pleural effusion are: Understanding pleural effusion The thoracic cage “unfolded”. The patient is sitting and there is a small pleural effusion on the left (right lung) and a large one on the right…
Ultrasound Case 003
72 year old man with a history of mesothelioma presents with increasing shortness of breath.