title: Drainage of large pleural effusions increases left ventricular preload.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate if pleurocentesis in patients with pleural effusion would lead to changes in systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was descriptive, and patients were their own controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting was a single-center university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with pleural effusion requiring pleurocentesis were eligible for inclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants who had pleurocentesis performed were available for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to pleurocentesis and approximately 1 hour after, patients were examined primarily with transthoracic echocardiography. The examination included measurements of left ventricular volumes and measures of diastolic function assessed by Doppler echocardiography. Thirty-five patients were included, and 11 later were excluded, yielding a study population of 24. Preload, expressed as left ventricular end-diastolic volume, increased significantly from before to after pleurocentesis (p=0.014). None of the diastolic parameters showed significant results. Significant changes were observed for heart rate, supplementary O2, respiratory frequency, and saturation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pleurocentesis increased left ventricular preload and improved respiratory function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Johan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juhl-Olsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lærke K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hørlyck
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address: sloth@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sloth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: drainage; echocardiography; hemodynamics; left ventricular; pleural effusions; pleurocentesis; preload