Pleural effusion overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Template:GCC
Overview
Pleural effusion is the presence of excessive fluid in the pleural cavity resulting from transudation or exudation from the pleural surfaces.
In normal conditions, the pleural space contains a small amount of fluid (≈0.3 mL·kg-1) maintained by a complex interplay of hydrostatic pressures and lymphatic drainage, which allows for steady liquid and protein turnover.[1] Pathological processes may lead to the development of pleural effusions by causing disequilibrium between the rates of pleural fluid formation, pleural permeability and pleural fluid absorption.
Four types of fluids can accumulate in the pleural space:
- Serous fluid (hydrothorax)
- Blood (hemothorax)
- Chyle (chylothorax)
- Pus (pyothorax or empyema)