Recommendations of Diagnosis and Treatment of Pleural Effusion. Update

• Published in: Archivos de bronconeumología (English ed.) Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 235 - 249
• Main Authors: Villena Garrido, Victoria, Cases Viedma, Enrique, Fernández Villar, Alberto, de Pablo Gafas, Alicia, Pérez Rodríguez, Esteban, Porcel Pérez, José Manuel, Rodríguez Panadero, Francisco, Ruiz Martínez, Carlos, Salvatierra Velázquez, Ángel, Valdés Cuadrado, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier España 01-06-2014
• Subjects: Algorithms; Combined Modality Therapy; Derrame pleural; Derrame pleural maligno; Derrame pleural paraneumónico; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Exudates and Transudates - chemistry; Hemothorax; Hemotórax; Humans; Internal Medicine; Malignant pleural effusion; Nutritional Support; Parapneumonic pleural effusion; Pleural effusion; Pleural Effusion - diagnosis; Pleural Effusion - etiology; Pleural Effusion - microbiology; Pleural Effusion - therapy; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - diagnosis; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - therapy; Pleural tuberculosis; Pleurodesis - methods; Pneumonia - complications; Pneumonia - drug therapy; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - therapy; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Sclerosing Solutions - therapeutic use; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis pleural; Tuberculosis, Pleural - complications; Tuberculosis, Pleural - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Pleural - drug therapy; Tuberculosis pleural; Derrame pleural paraneumónico; Derrame pleural; Hemotórax; Pleural tuberculosis; Hemothorax; Pleural effusion; Malignant pleural effusion; Derrame pleural maligno; Parapneumonic pleural effusion
• ISSN: 1579-2129; 1579-2129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arbr.2014.04.007

Abstract Although during the last few years there have been several important changes in the diagnostic or therapeutic methods, pleural effusion is still one of the diseases that the respiratory specialist have to evaluate frequently. The aim of this paper is to update the knowledge about pleural effusions, rather than to review the causes of pleural diseases exhaustively. These recommendations have a longer extension for the subjects with a direct clinical usefulness, but a slight update of other pleural diseases has been also included. Among the main scientific advantages are included the thoracic ultrasonography, the intrapleural fibrinolytics, the pleurodesis agents, or the new pleural drainages techniques.