PLEURAL EFFUSION

Course overview

PLEURAL EFFUSION IS THE ACCUMULATION OF FLUID IN BETWEEN THE PARIETAL AND VISCERAL PLEURA, CALLED THE PLEURAL CAVITY. IT CAN OCCUR BY ITSELF OR CAN BE THE RESULT OF SURROUNDING PARENCHYMAL DISEASE LIKE INFECTION, MALIGNANCY OR INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS. PLEURAL EFFUSION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF PULMONARY MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES, PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL EFFUSION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.