The pleura are two thin, moist membranes around the lungs. The inner layer is attached to the lungs. The outer layer is attached to the ribs. Pleural effusion is the buildup of excess fluid in the space between the pleura. The fluid prevents the lungs from fully expanding. This causes shortness of breath. There are two layers of pleura:
There are two types of effusion:
Effusion is usually caused by disease or injury. The two types have different causes:
Factors that increase your chance of getting pleural effusion include:
Some types of pleural effusion do not cause symptoms. Others cause a variety of symptoms, including:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. This may include listening to or tapping on your chest.
Tests may include:
Treatment is usually aimed at treating the underlying cause. This may include treating:
If breathing is impaired you may receive:
The pleural effusion may be drained by:
In some cases, the doctor may recommend chemical pleurodesis. During this procedure, talc powder or an irritating chemical is injected into the pleural space. This will permanently seal the two layers of the pleura together. This may help prevent further fluid build up.
Radiation therapy may also be used to achieve this purpose.
In severe cases, surgery may be needed. It is done to remove some of the pleura and resolve the pleural effusion. This may be accomplished through:
RESOURCES:
American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
Celli, Bartolome R. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. Cecil Medicine . 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2007.
Pleural effusion. eMedicine Journal. August 20, 2001.
Pleural effusion. The Pulmonology Channel website. Available at: http://www.pulmonologychannel.com/ .
Last reviewed January 2009 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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