title: Symptom relief after large-volume thoracentesis in the absence of lung perfusion.
abstract: The physiologic basis for relief from dyspnea after therapeutic thoracentesis remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the case of a 46-year-old man with large recurrent pleural effusion with absent perfusion to the affected lung who experienced dramatic dyspnea relief after large-volume thoracentesis. This patient's improvement in breathlessness cannot be attributed to improved gas exchange and suggests the primary physiologic basis for the relief in dyspnea is a change in respiratory system mechanics or work of breathing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Klecka
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: Maldonado.Fabien@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maldonado
mesh_terms: D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio