3 Unless there is a suspicion of dual pathologies, which are more common than previously thought, 4 diuresis should be undertaken rather than immediate thoracentesis, with a subsequent review to confirm treatment response.
In patients with known congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and bilateral effusions, it is highly likely that this is the cause of the effusions. 2 A pleural effusion occurs either when production exceeds reabsorption or when the mechanisms of reabsorption have been disrupted, the latter being more common.Īn understanding of the clinical situation is vital when investigating the cause of a pleural effusion. In healthy individuals, the pleural cavity contains approximately 0.3 mL/kg of fluid. PF is produced primarily by the parietal pleura and reabsorbed via the pleural lymphatics. Pleural fluid (PF) accumulation is a result of disruption in the balance between production and reabsorption. 1 Diagnosing the cause of a pleural effusion requires a combination of clinical, radiological and laboratory investigations. The most common causes of a pleural effusion are heart failure, cancer and pneumonia but there are over 50 documented causes. Pleural effusions are a common clinical and radiological finding, with presenting symptoms that include shortness of breath, cough and chest pain.
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