[Value of the measurement of gases in the diagnosis of pleural effusion (author's transl)].
Determination of pH and measurement of pCO2 and pO2 have been systematically included in the study of 183 patients with pleural effusion. According to selective etiologic criteria the effusions were divided into four categories: those of cardiac origin (42), non-specific infectious (14), tuberculous (22) and neoplastic (20). A pH inferior to 6.30 seemed to be characteristic of non-tuberculous pleural effusion, and in these circumstances an associated pCO2 greater than 135 mm Hg and pO2 less than 21 mm Hg were noticed. Results in tuberculous and neoplastic cases were similar, pO2 being the only differential datum (pO2 less than 49 mm Hg and pO2 greater than 52 mm Hg, respectively). Overall results are compared to those obtained in the subgroup of pleural effusions of cardiac origin. Determination of pH, pO2 and pCO2 in pleural effusions may help to identified the etiology of this condition, specially when associated to analysis of other parameters of the aspirated fluid.
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000032:analysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000150:complications
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen
Valor de los gases en el diagnóstico de los derrames pleurales.