Pleural Effusion Research Paper

Pleural effusion is the most common manifestation of pleural disease. Pleural effusion occurs when there is an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space and is commonly known as “water on the lungs” (Cramer, 2015). The accumulation of this fluid prevents the lungs from fully opening, which may result in dyspnea. It is estimated that approximately one million Americans will develop pleural effusion each year. Pleural effusion itself is not actually a disease, it is the result of many different types of diseases. Pleural effusion does not affect any specific age group or gender. There are many possible causes for this issue including heart failure, liver disease, pancreatitis, kidney disease, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and cancer. Not every patient with pleural effusion will be symptomatic. However, if the patient is symptomatic, the most common presenting complaint is SOB. Other common symptoms include chest pain, cough (productive or non-productive), shallow breathing, and rapid pulse (AJCC, 2011). There are two different forms of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. Transudative pleural effusion is most commonly caused by HF and …show more content…
Since transudative pleural effusion is commonly caused by CHF, reducing your risk for CHF, such as smoking cessation, may also reduce your risk for pleural effusion. Exudative pleural effusion is less likely to be preventable. Pleural effusion is a serious medical issue that needs to be treated right away to prevent lung damage. When providing care for this type of patient it is important to remember that the care should be interpersonal. It takes many different types of health care workers such as physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists to restore this patient to optimal health. Being hospitalized has many different effects on patients, therefore the health care members should remember to provide care for the patient as a whole instead of just treating the pleural