Unilateral Pleural Effusion

Question 1

What can a Unilateral Pleural Effusion consist of (2) (types)

Answer 1

Fluid in pleural cavity

excudate ==> with protein
Transudate ==> without protein

Question 2

What is the general cause of exudate

Answer 2

Inflammation

Question 3

what is the general cause of transudate

Answer 3

fluid shifting

Question 4

What are 4 causes of Excudate pleural effusion

Answer 4

Lung cancer
Pneumonia

RA
TB

Question 5

what are 4 causes of transudate pleural effusion

Answer 5

congestive cardiac failure
hypoalbuminaemia

Hypothyroidism
Meig’s syndrome

Question 6

What is Meig’s syndrome (cause of T.P.effusion)

Answer 6

triad of:

Benign Ovarian Cancer
PE
Ascites

Question 7

what does a Unilateral Pleural Effusion sound like when percussing

Answer 7

Dullness to percussion

Question 8

what happens to the trachea in a Pleural effusion

Answer 8

tracheal deviation AWAY from effusion

Question 9

What are 2 investigations used in a Unilateral Pleural Effusion

Answer 9

CXR

Aspiration // Chest drain

Question 10

How do we treat small pleural effusions

Answer 10

Will resolve itself

Question 11

How do we treat large pleural effusions

Answer 11

Chest drain // Pleural Aspiration

Question 12

What is a empyema

Answer 12

infected pleural effusion

Question 13

When do we suspect a px has a empyema

Answer 13

Px w/improving pneumonia has new/ongoing fever

Question 14

Bilateral pleural effusions are normally what constitution?

compared with unilateral?

Answer 14

Bilateral => transudate

Unilateral => excudate