title: Pleural effusion: nursing care challenge in the elderly.
abstract: Pleural effusion is excess collection of fluid in the pleural cavity. It is a frequent complication of pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and carcinomas of the lung, breast, and ovaries. Regardless of the cause, pleural effusion produces significant effects on the respiratory system, especially when considering the normal age-related changes that compromise the respiratory system. Pleural effusion and the complexity of diagnosis and treatment make planning and delivering care challenging. The article describes the pathophysiology of pleural effusion, its management, and related nursing care priorities.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy