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What Are The Chances Of Pleural Effusion Leading To Pneumonia?
Question: If a hospitalised patient has an ongoing pleural effusion, e.g. for several weeks, would giving the person a pleural tap significant decrease the risk of getting pneumonia or not really make any appreciable difference?
Brief Answer:
No, pleural tapping will not affect chances of pne
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
How are you?
The chances of pleural effusion leading to pneumonia is remote. In fact, generally pneumonia may cause pl effusion and not vice versa unless there is a communication between pleural cavity and lungs due to some conditions. The pleural effusion in the said person appears to be due to chronic heart failure .
Normally such a pleural effusion is left alone and managed with diuretic therapy because any external intervention may lead to infecting the otherwise sterile fluid which is then difficult to treat. However if the effusion is massive and causing breathlessness, the fluid should be removed so that patient can breathe easily .
Hence, in this patient chances of pneumonia due to pl effusion are not very high and that no attempt should be made to remove the fluid. Diuretic therapy to be continued hoping that the fluid will dry up
No, pleural tapping will not affect chances of pne
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
How are you?
The chances of pleural effusion leading to pneumonia is remote. In fact, generally pneumonia may cause pl effusion and not vice versa unless there is a communication between pleural cavity and lungs due to some conditions. The pleural effusion in the said person appears to be due to chronic heart failure .
Normally such a pleural effusion is left alone and managed with diuretic therapy because any external intervention may lead to infecting the otherwise sterile fluid which is then difficult to treat. However if the effusion is massive and causing breathlessness, the fluid should be removed so that patient can breathe easily .
Hence, in this patient chances of pneumonia due to pl effusion are not very high and that no attempt should be made to remove the fluid. Diuretic therapy to be continued hoping that the fluid will dry up
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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