Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Pleural Effusion - Basics - Pathophysiology - Best Practice - English

    Uploaded by

    Miko Hernandez Full
    30 views1 page
    Primary cause of a pleural effusion is simply an imbalance between the fluid production and fluid removal in the pleural space. At any one time there are about 20 mL of fluid in each hemithorax and the layer of fluid is 2 to 10 mm thick. When local factors are altered, the fluid is proteinand LDH-rich and is called an exudate.

    Original Description:

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Primary cause of a pleural effusion is simply an imbalance between the fluid production and fluid removal in the pleural space. At any one time there are about 20 mL of fluid in each hemithorax and the layer of fluid is 2 to 10 mm thick. When local factors are altered, the fluid is proteinand LDH-rich and is called an exudate.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    30 views1 page

    Pleural Effusion - Basics - Pathophysiology - Best Practice - English

    Uploaded by

    Miko Hernandez Full
    Primary cause of a pleural effusion is simply an imbalance between the fluid production and fluid removal in the pleural space. At any one time there are about 20 mL of fluid in each hemithorax and the layer of fluid is 2 to 10 mm thick. When local factors are altered, the fluid is proteinand LDH-rich and is called an exudate.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 1

    8/11/12

    Menu
    Search BMJ Group Search BMJ Group

    Pleural effusion - Basics - Pathophysiology - Best Practice - English

    Search BMJ Group

    Journals Jobs Education Decision support Quality improvement Community

    BMJ Group
    This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here

    Search Show conditions

    Pleural effusion Pathophysiology


    The primary cause of a pleural effusion is simply an imbalance between the fluid production and fluid removal in the pleural space. The pleural space must, under normal circumstances, have a small amount of lubricating fluid present to allow the lung surface to glide within the thorax during the respiratory cycle. Normally approximately 15 mL/day of fluid enters this potential space, primarily from the capillaries of the parietal pleura. This fluid is removed by the lymphatics in the parietal pleura. At any one time there is about 20 mL of fluid in each hemithorax and the layer of fluid is 2 to 10 mm thick. [3] This regulated fluid balance is disrupted when local or systemic derangements occur. When local factors are altered, the fluid is protein- and LDH-rich and is called an exudate. Local factors include leaky capillaries from inflammation due to infection, infarction, or tumour. When systemic factors are altered, producing a pleural effusion, the fluid has low protein and LDH levels and is called a transudate. This can be caused by an elevated pulmonary capillary pressure with heart failure, excess ascites with cirrhosis, or low oncotic pressure due to hypoalbuminaemia (e.g., with nephrotic syndrome). In clinical practice, transudates are often multifactorial, with renal failure plus cardiac failure plus poor nutritional status being a common trilogy. [3]
    Last updated: Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 UTC 2011 Discuss this topic on the Surgery forum at doc2doc Discuss this topic on the Anaesthetics & Critical Care forum at doc2doc Discuss this topic on the Medicine forum at doc2doc

    Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2011. All rights reserved.

    bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/287/basics/pathophysiology.html

    1/1

    You might also like