pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing. Normally, a small amount of fluid is present within the pleura.

Symptoms of pleural effusion include:

1. Chest pain
2. Dry, non-productive cough
3. Dyspnea (shortness of breath, or difficult, labored breathing)
4. Orthopnea (the inability to breathe easily unless the individual is sitting up straight or standing erect)

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to:

1. Remove the fluid
2. Prevent liquid from building up again
3. Determine and treat the cause of the fluid build-up

Removing the fluid (thoracentesis) may be done if there's a lot of fluid and it is causing chest pressure, shortness of breath, or a low oxygen level. Eliminating the fluid permits the lung to expand, making breathing easier.

The cause of the liquid build-up must too be treated:

1. If it is because of heart failure, you may get diuretics (water pills) and other medications to treat heart failure.
2. If it is due to an infection, antibiotics will be given. Sometimes additional treatment is needed.
3. If it is from cancer, liver disease, or kidney disease, treatment ought to be directed at these conditions.

In a few cases, any of the following treatments are done:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Placing medication into the chest that stops fluid from building up again after it is drained
3. Leaving a small size tube in place for a longer period to let the fluid drain and the lung expand overtime
4. Radiation therapy
5. Surgery