Pleural effusion: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P A pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.

T Causes
P The body produces pleural fluid in small amounts to lubricate the surfaces of the pleura. This is the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. Pleural effusion is an abnormal, excessive collection of this fluid.
P There are two types of pleural effusion:
- Transudative pleural effusion is caused by fluid leaking into the pleural space. This is from increased pressure in the blood vessels or a low blood protein count. Heart failure is the most common cause.
- Exudative effusion is caused by blocked blood vessels or lymph vessels, inflammation, lung injury, and tumors.
P Risk factors of pleural effusion may include:
- Smoking and drinking alcohol
- Any previous complaint of high blood pressure
- History of any contact with asbestos

T Symptoms
P Symptoms can include any of the following:
- Chest pain, usually a sharp pain that is worse with cough or deep breaths
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Hiccups
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
P Sometimes there are no symptoms.

T Exams and Tests
P Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The provider will also listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and tap (percuss) your chest and upper back.
P Chest CT scan or a chest x-ray may be enough for your provider to decide on treatment.
P Your provider may want to perform tests on the fluid. If so, a sample of fluid is removed with a needle inserted between the ribs. Tests on the fluid will be done to look for:
- Infection
- Cancer cells
- Protein levels
P Blood tests that may be done include
- Complete blood count (CBC), to check for signs of infection or anemia
- Kidney and liver function blood tests
P If needed, these other tests may be done:
- Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) to look for heart failure
- Lung biopsy to look for cancer
- Passing a tube through the windpipe to check the airways for problems or cancer (bronchoscopy)

T Treatment
P The goal of treatment is to:
- Remove the fluid
- Prevent fluid from building up again
- Determine and treat the cause of the fluid buildup
P Removing the fluid (thoracentesis) may be done if there is a lot of fluid and it is causing chest pressure, shortness of breath, or a low oxygen level. Removing the fluid allows the lung to expand, making breathing easier.
P The cause of the fluid buildup must also be treated:
- If it is due to heart failure, you may receive diuretics (water pills) and other medicines to treat heart failure.
- If it is due to an infection, antibiotics will be given.
P In people with cancer or infection, the effusion is often treated by using a chest tube to drain the fluid.
P In some cases, any of the following treatments are done:
- Chemotherapy
- Placing medicine into the chest that prevents fluid from building up again after it is drained
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P The outcome depends on the underlying disease.

T Possible Complications
P Complications of pleural effusion may include:
- Lung damage
- Infection that turns into an abscess, called an empyema
- Air in the chest cavity (pneumothorax) after drainage of the effusion
- Pleural thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung)

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider or go to the emergency room if you have:
- Symptoms of pleural effusion
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing right after thoracentesis

T Alternative Names
P Fluid in the chest; Fluid on the lung; Pleural fluid

T Images
- Lungs
- Respiratory system
- Pleural cavity

T References
P Broaddus VC, Light RW. Pleural effusion. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 79.
P Mccool FD. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura and mediastinum. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 99.

T Review Date 8/21/2016
P Updated by: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron, Jr. Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

