Management of pleural space: effusions and empyema.
Pleural effusions are commonly encountered in clinical medicine. They can represent both a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. This article discusses the diagnostic modalities used to evaluate the patient with a pleural effusion. Also discussed are the therapeutic options for the 2 most common causes of pleural effusions encountered by the surgeon: pleural sepsis and malignant pleural effusions.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 5200 Centre Avenue, Suite 715, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. christiena@upmc.edu
Neil A
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Christie
D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000150:complications; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications