title: Diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusions.
abstract: Parapneumonic effusions affect many patients and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. It is necessary to differentiate complicated effusions requiring intervention from uncomplicated effusions. Differentiation is achieved using clinical, pleural fluid, and imaging parameters. Intervention takes the form of blind catheter placement and drainage, image-guided catheter placement and drainage, and surgical decortication [video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or open thoracotomy]. Image-guided drainage and management of complicated effusions in adults and pediatric patients are safe and highly effective in select patients. The use of intrapleural fibrinolytic agents to facilitate resolution of complicated effusions is widespread and considered effective by many despite a lack of conclusive data supporting this method. We propose an algorithmic approach to patients with parapneumonic effusions and advocate image-guided drainage and management in patients likely to benefit from this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002404:Catheterization; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents