Postpartum pleural effusion.
A prospective ultrasound study investigated the reportedly high frequency of asymptomatic pleural effusions in the early postpartum period. The pleural space of 50 women within 1-45 h of delivery was scanned with a real-time sector scanner. Only one woman had a pleural effusion. This patient had severe pre-eclampsia with clinically apparent pulmonary oedema. Our findings do not substantiate the previously reported high frequency of pleural fluid in healthy women immediately after delivery.
Udeshi
U L
UL
Birmingham Maternity Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston.
McHugo
J M
JM
Crawford
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography