Pleural effusion?

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I have had left side pain for over a few months. I finally went to the DR and got XRAYS. Found pleural effusion of left lung. I went yesterday for a pleural tap. They took out 1 1/2 quarts of yellowish/cloudy fluid. I am not waiting to hear results. I am nervous. I read up online that It could be anything from Phneumonia to cancer. The thing that worries me is that I have NOT been sick in the last say 9-12 months. I just have this pain and shortness of breath. I am 36 yr old male. Please tell me what this sounds like to you. Or if you have any experience in this field please give me your ideas. thank you very much!
I called the DR this morning. The only results that came back is the gram stain. That was negative for Any organisms. so that rules our pneumonia huh? Or am I wrong? Thank you for your help and for repling!!
Well, that's a sizeable pleural effusion. I can't speculate as to what the contents are just based on the appearance of the fluid, so we'll need to wait for the lab results. You're quite young so it makes me less worried about cancer, but I am concerned about an underlying cardiac abnormality or and occult pumonary infection. Short of that, I'm afraid I can't offer you anything more helpful, I do beg your pardon.  (+ info)

pleural effusion?

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Can someone tell me about this? I was told on friday that this is what I have. I have been having problems with breathing and pain for over 2 months. Finally went to the DR and he sent me for xrays.. They found the left side had a significant amount of fluid. DR said he does not think it's phneumonia. I don't have symptoms of being sick either. He is consulting his Colleague and going to get back to me on Monday on what we should do. I did get blood work after the visit on friday.. I am very nervous.

What are the main causes of it?

Do you think I should be concerned?? Honestly! Thank you!!
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Does anyone know about cirrohssis particularly accumulating ascites/pleural effusion after 5 yrs of TIPS work?

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My father had the TIPS procedure done 5 years ago because he had ascites accumulation and it went away after TIPS but now ascites is back plus pleural effusion. My dad has cirrohssis of the liver and according to the doctor his TIPS is working well so why does he have ascites and pleural effusion then?
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Which is the best hospital in the world to treat pleural effusion?

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Hi, my girl is suffering from pleural effusion and this happened at a time when we were planning to tie the knot. I am extremely worried, is completely curable? Which is the best hospital in the world to treat this disease? Please reply.
depends on the CAUSE of the effusion  (+ info)

When a person has a pleural effusion, what is that? And what is happening to the person on a cellular level?

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I know that pleural effusion refers to an abnormal collection of fluids in the pleural cavity, but how does that affect respiration? What exactly is going on?
Background: Pleural effusion is defined as an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. Excess fluid results from the disruption of the equilibrium that exists across pleural membranes.
In terms of anatomy, the pleural space is bordered by parietal and visceral pleura. Parietal pleurae cover the inner surface of the thoracic cavity, including the mediastinum, diaphragm, and ribs. Visceral pleurae envelop all surfaces of the lungs, including the interlobar fissures. This lining is absent at the hilus, where pulmonary vessels, bronchi, and nerves enter the lung tissue. The mediastinum completely separates the right and left pleural spaces.

Both parietal and visceral membranes are smooth, glistening, and semitransparent. Despite these similarities, the two membranes have unique differences in anatomic architecture, innervation, pain fibers, blood supply, lymphatic drainage, and function. For example, the visceral pleurae contain no pain fibers and have a dual blood supply (bronchial and pulmonary).


Pathophysiology: Pleural effusion is an indicator of a pathologic process that may be of primary pulmonary origin or of an origin related to another organ system or to systemic disease. It may occur in the setting of acute or chronic disease and is not a diagnosis in itself.

Normal pleural fluid has the following characteristics: clear ultrafiltrate of plasma, pH 7.60-7.64, protein content less than 2% (1-2 g/dL), fewer than 1000 WBCs per cubic millimeter, glucose content similar to that of plasma, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level less than 50% of plasma and sodium, and potassium and calcium concentration similar to that of the interstitial fluid.

The principal function of pleural fluid is to provide a frictionless surface between the two pleurae in response to changes in lung volume with respiration. The following mechanisms play a role in the formation of pleural effusion:


Altered permeability of the pleural membranes (eg, inflammatory process, neoplastic disease, pulmonary embolus)

Reduction in intravascular oncotic pressure (eg, hypoalbuminemia, hepatic cirrhosis)

Increased capillary permeability or vascular disruption (eg, trauma, neoplastic disease, inflammatory process, infection, pulmonary infarction, drug hypersensitivity, uremia, pancreatitis)

Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure in the systemic and/or pulmonary circulation (eg, congestive heart failure, superior vena caval syndrome)

Reduction of pressure in pleural space; lung unable to expand (eg, extensive atelectasis, mesothelioma)

Inability of the lung to expand (eg, extensive atelectasis, mesothelioma)

Decreased lymphatic drainage or complete blockage, including thoracic duct obstruction or rupture (eg, malignancy, trauma)

Increased fluid in peritoneal cavity, with migration across the diaphragm via the lymphatics (eg, hepatic cirrhosis, peritoneal dialysis)

Movement of fluid from pulmonary edema across the visceral pleura

Persistent increase in pleural fluid oncotic pressure from an existing pleural effusion, causing accumulation of further fluid

Iatrogenic causes (eg, central line misplacement)  (+ info)

Is it dangerous to give water to pet/doggy when she/he had a pleural effusion or a heart condition?

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Is it dangerous to give water to pet when she/he had a pleural effusion or a heart condition or something that has to do with rapid heart beat and rapid breathing with accompanied fluid build up that can be seen like a fat hanging in the ribs or chest part of the doggy?
Ask the vet who diagnosed this condition. You should be following up with the vet for this anyway; it does affect the pumping of the heart and circulation.
If it's a temporary condition (as in, after accident with broken ribs) - hang in there.
If chronic illness, the important thing is to make your dog comfortable esp if pet is seriously ill. I have been thru this decision a few times and still it's hard to decide whether the dog is still happy and comfortable enough to continue...  (+ info)

After fluid from Pleural Effusion is removed, will leftover fluid go away on its own?

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I recently had a laparoscopic surgery in which my appendix was removed. My doctors said that the Pleural Effusion was a complication from surgery and they used a needle to remove fluid from my right lung. I was looking at the before and after x-rays and it looks like there's still some fluid left over.
Yes, it will go away as long as the condition that caused it in the first place is dealt with.
Whenever they "tap" a pleural effusion they have to leave some behind otherwise they risk puncturing the lung.
God bless and a speedy recovery.  (+ info)

Physiology of the respiratory system with a patient diagnose with Pleural Effusion?

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how does our respiratory system works with a patient who has pleural effusion..
and the chemical changes in the respiratory system
what changes occurs??
It depends on the amount of fluid that interferes with the respiratory function and the underlying causes. There are various factors and diseases that can cause pleural effusion such as TB, cancer, and even a misplacement of a central line. Normally, clients tend to show clinical symptoms with the combination of underlying disease or illness.

There are few changes occur after a moderate to large pleural effusion in the respiratory system. However, a mild pleural effusion often cause no clinical symptoms and only be identified in a chest radiograph or chest CT scan.

Due to accumulation of extra amount of fluid in the pleural space, the lung can not achieve its full expansion during the inspiration which in turn causes the person to breath faster than usual. In a chronic phase, the chest wall muscles become weaker,causing further worsening of the breathing pattern. Decreased chest volume results in increased right-to left shunt , and the client may experience the symptoms of hypoxiemia.eg,confusion, agitation,poor blood gas and so on.
Hope, this helps.
Regards,  (+ info)

I need Information on Pleural Effusion case history?

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If a feline has had 3 treatments of chemotherapy and a small amount fluid is still building up outside of the lung area is there any hope? My female cat is eating, playing, cleaning herself and going to the bathroom very normally but the Vet seems to think theres no hope at this point. When the fluid (pleural effusion) levels increase she has problems breathing and the Vet doesn't want to drain this fluid out anymore. The last time it was 120cc's. It's about every 25-26 days this has to be done so she can breath normally. What should I do???
If this is a never ending procedure, then she's most likely going to slip into respiratory failure. That's an awful lot of fluid, for a cat, too!
I agree with the veterinarian; when the problem persists and this is the only solution, the chances of her becoming immonsuppressed and getting a massive infection are extremely high. Her body isn't working as it should or it would be absorbing any extra fluid that's creeping into her lung spaces. She may be in heart failure or even kidney failure, recurrent pleural effusions point in that direction.
I'm so sorry...  (+ info)

Breath sounds in pleural effusion vs consolidation?

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I'm hoping someone can please explain to me why pleural effusion are known to have dec breath sounds and consolidation would have inc breath sounds. i thought the fluid transmitting sound would lead to both pathologies having inc breath sounds.

thanks so much for your help.
Breath sounds are decreased in both conditions. Vocal sounds are increased in both conditions simply because consolidation and thick fluid transmit sound better than air.Ask your patient to say 1.2.3 while you are listening to both sides, the consolidated side will be louder. Percussion is dulled with both also. Rales might be heard in pneumonia and /or wheezing but once it is fully consolidated the bs are silent although you might hear breath sounds transmitted from the upper airways.
Place both of your hands flat across the the pt's posterior lower lobes.
Ask them to take a deep breath, if one side expands more than the other you've found where the consolidation is.You can do all of this or you can just get a chest x ray.
God bless.  (+ info)

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