Pleural effusion

 


What is pleural effusion? Pleural effusion sometimes referred to as “fluid in the lungs,” is the accumulation of excess fluid between layers of pleura outside the lungs. The pleura is a thin layer that connects the lungs to the inside of the chest and works to lubricate and make it easier to breathe. Generally, a small amount of fluid is present in the pleura. Is pleural effusion critical? The severity of the condition depends on the underlying cause of the pleural effusion, whether breathing is affected, and whether it can be treated properly. Causes of pleural effusion effluent that can be treated or controlled effectively include infection due to infection, pneumonia, or heart failure. Two factors to consider are the treatment of associated mechanical problems and the treatment of the root cause of the pleural effusion.

What are the symptoms of pleural effusion? Some patients with pleural effusion have no symptoms, in the form of a chest x-ray performed for another reason. The patient may have unrelated symptoms due to an illness or condition that caused the discharge. Symptoms of pleural effusion include Chest pain, Dry, non-productive cough, Dyspnea (shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), Orthopnea (inability to breathe easily unless a person is sitting upright or standing upright).

What causes pleural effusion? Pleural effusions are very common, with about 100,000 cases occurring in the United States each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Depending on the cause, excess fluid may be protein-poor (transudative) or high in protein (exudative). These two stages help physicians determine the cause of the pleural effusion. The most common causes of transudative (watery fluid) pleural effusions include Heart failure, Pulmonary embolism, Cirrhosis, Post open heart surgery, Exudative (protein-rich fluid) pleural effusions are usually caused by: Pneumonia, Cancer, Pulmonary embolism, Kidney disease, Inflammatory disease. Other common causes of pleural discharge include Tuberculosis, Autoimmune disease, Bleeding (due to chest injury), Chylothorax (due to injury), Unusual chest and stomach infections, Asbestos pleural effusion (due to asbestos exposure), Meig’s syndrome (due to a non-ovarian tumor), Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Certain medications, abdominal surgery, and radiation therapy may also cause pleural effusion. Pleural effusion can be associated with several types of cancer including lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. In some cases, the fluid itself may be harmful (cancer), or it may be a direct result of chemotherapy.

Types; you may hear your doctor use the terms "transudative" and "exudative" to describe two main types of pleural effusions. Transudative; this pleural effusion is similar to the fluid you usually have in your pleural area. It arises from leaking fluid into the normal pleura. This type does not usually need light unless it is very large. Severe heart failure is the most common cause of this type. Exudative; this occurs in excess fluid, proteins, blood, swollen cells, or sometimes bacteria that leak into damaged blood vessels to the pleura. You may need to remove it, depending on its size and the extent of the inflammation. Causes of this type include pneumonia and lung cancer.

How is pleural effusion diagnosed? Common tests used to diagnose and evaluate pleural effluent include Chest x-ray, Computed tomography (CT) chest scan, Chest Ultrasound, Thoracentesis (needle inserted between ribs for biopsy, or fluid sample), Pleural fluid analysis (examination of fluid extracted from pleura space). When pleural effusion has remained undiagnosed despite previous tests, a very small, thoracoscopy may be performed. Thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, also known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or VATS, performed under general anesthesia that allows visual inspection of the pleura). Often, effusion treatment is combined with a diagnosis of these conditions.

How is pleural effusion treated? Treatment of pleural effusion is based on the underlying condition and whether the leak is causing severe respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Diuretics and other heart failure medications are used to treat pleural inflammation caused by joint heart failure or other medical causes. The harmful effusion may require chemotherapy, radiation, or chemotherapy. The pleural effusion that causes respiratory symptoms may be removed using thoracentesis treatment or a thoracic tube (called a tube thoracostomy). In patients with uncontrolled or recurrent pleural inflammation due to a serious illness despite the flow of fluid, a sclerosing agent (a type of drug that intentionally causes scars) may occasionally be inserted into the pleural canal by thoracostomy of the tube to form fibrosis (fibrous tissue). excessive). Pleura sclerosis (pleura sclerosis). Pleural sclerosis caused by sclerosing agents (such as talc, doxycycline, and tetracycline) was 50 percent effective in preventing recurrence of pleural effusions.

Surgery; Pleural effusions that cannot be controlled with drainage or pleural sclerosis may require surgical treatment. Two types of surgery include Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS); the slow attack method is completed with 1 to 3 small cuts (approximately ½ inches) on the chest. Also known as thoracoscopic surgery, this procedure is effective in controlling pleural effusions that are difficult to remove or duplicate due to malignancy. Sterile talc or disinfectant may be applied during surgery to prevent the recurrence of fluid buildup. Thoracotomy (Also called traditional thoracic surgery, "open"); a thoracotomy is performed with a 6- to the 8-inch-wide chest and is recommended for pleural removal where the infection is present. A thoracotomy is performed to remove all fibrous tissue and utensils to remove the infection in the pleural area. Patients will need chest tubes 2 days to 2 weeks after surgery to continue dehydration.

What are the complications of pleural effusion? Possible problems associated with pleural effusion are: lung scars, pneumothorax (lung failure) as a problem with thoracentesis, empyema (red collection within the pleural space), as well, sepsis (blood infection) sometimes leads to death.

Can you prevent pleural effusion? The development of pleural effusion can sometimes be prevented by early treatment of the causes listed above. However, in some cases, the development of pleural effusions may not be prevented. Some pleural effusions may be prevented from recurring by people performing pleurodesis, a process that closes the pleural space.


Samina Zaheer (Health Tips, Health Care)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pneumonia

Image
  Pneumonia is a disease that causes air sacs in one or both lungs. Air sacs may be filled with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A wide variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can be very serious from small to life-threatening. It is especially dangerous for infants and toddlers, people older than 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems. Symptoms;  the signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of virus that causes the infection, your age, and overall health. Symptoms and symptoms are usually similar to those of the flu or flu, but they last longer. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: Chest pain when breathing or coughing, confusion or changes in mental awareness (for adults 65 and older), cough which may produce phlegm, fatigue, fever, sweating, and chills. Lower ...
Read more

STROKE

Image
  Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries that lead to the brain and the inside. It is the 5th leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked and ruptured (or broken). The three main types of strokes are; ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, a transient ischemic attack (warning or “small side”). There are two main causes of stroke: ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. Some people may have a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic stroke (TIA), which does not cause permanent symptoms. Sudden confusion, bad speech, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden vision problem with one or both eyes. Sudden walking disorder, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of communication. Stroke is usually detected by doing physical exercises and reading brain scans produced during the scan. Blood tests to find out your choleste...
Read more

Bedsores

Image
Overview:  Bedsores - also called pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers - damage the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. Bedsores usually appear on the skin covering the skeletal areas of the body, such as the heels, ankles, waist, and tail bone.   People who are at risk of developing red ulcers have health conditions that limit their ability to change positions or cause them to spend more time in bed or chair.   Bedsores can develop over hours or days. Most wounds heal with treatment, but some do not completely recover. You can take steps to help prevent sleep sores and help them to heal.  Symptoms:  Warning signs of bedsores or pressure ulcers are:   Unusual changes in skin color or texture ,  inflammation ,  and redness. The area of ​​skin that feels cooler or warmer when touched than other areas.  Tender areas:  Bedsores fall into one of several categories based on their depth, durability, and other ...
Read more