What does bilateral effusions mean?
Bilateral pleural effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space — the space between the lungs and the chest wall, said doctors.
What are bilateral pleural effusions?
What is pleural effusion? Pleural effusion, sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” 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.
What cause bilateral pleural effusion?
The cause of bilateral pleural effusions is generally thought to be due to congestive heart failure (CHF), renal or liver failure, although the only two studies that have objectively evaluated this assumption draw from markedly different populations.
What does effusion mean in medical terms?
Listen to pronunciation. (eh-FYOO-zhun) An abnormal collection of fluid in hollow spaces or between tissues of the body. For example, a pleural effusion is a collection of fluid between the two layers of membrane covering the lungs.
What is the treatment for joint effusion?
Treatment for joint effusion depends on the cause and often includes resting the joint and applying ice packs to reduce swelling. In some cases, fluid may be removed from the joint to reduce swelling and increase the joint’s range of motion.
What is the meaning of pericardial effusion?
Listen to pronunciation. (PAYR-ih-KAR-dee-ul eh-FYOO-zhun) A condition in which extra fluid collects between the heart and the pericardium (the sac around the heart). The extra fluid causes pressure on the heart.
Which is an example of an exudative bilateral effusion?
Examples of exudative bilateral effusions include heart failure treated with diuretics, malignancy, rheumatologic conditions, pneumonias, and others.
Is it common to have Bilateral Pleural effusion?
Bilateral pleural effusion (BPE) is not an uncommon finding in clinical practice. There are currently no firm recommendations on whether it is sufficient to perform a puncture on a single side or whether it is necessary to routinely perform bilateral diagnostic thoracentesis.
Where does the fluid in a pleural effusion come from?
The development of a pleural effusion occurs from fluid seeping into the pleural space, a thin area between the visceral and pleural membranes in the chest cavity, which normally contains a small amount of fluid to facilitate smooth lung movement. Fluid under pressure, malignant cells,…
Is there a treatment for an exudative pleural effusion?
Small transudative effusions may require no treatment, while larger ones and most exudative pleural effusions require treatment. The initial treatment of choice is drainage of the pleural fluid.