What is a complicated pleural effusion?

A complicated parapneumonic effusion refers to an effusion that has been infected with bacteria or other micro-organisms (eg, positive gram stain or biochemical evidence of marked inflammation).

What is a loculated pleural effusion?

Fibrotic scar tissue may develop, creating pockets of fluid in the pleural cavity, preventing effective drainage of the fluid. This condition is designated as a Loculated Pleural Effusion (LPE) and leads to pain and shortness of breath, as the lungs are not able to properly expand.

What is the best antibiotic for pleural effusion?

Clindamycin is the best choice for anaerobic infections. Most all antibiotics penetrate the pleural cavity with a high enough concentration to be effective. For this reason intrapleural injection of antibiotics is not necessary. A noteworthy exception is the aminoglycoside class.

How many times can you drain a pleural effusion?

After catheter insertion, the pleural space should be drained three times a week. No more than 1,000 mL of fluid should be removed at a time—or less if drainage causes chest pain or cough secondary to trapped lung (see below).

How common is pleural effusion in pneumonia patients?

Pneumonia is the most common condition responsible for infection-related pleural effusions; among the estimated 1.5 million patients being hospitalized for pneumonia annually in the US ( 24 ), up to half of them may develop pleural effusion by ultrasonographic criteria ( 25 ).

What is a large effusion?

When knee joint effusion is large, it leads to swelling in and around the knee joint. The effusion typically is that of synovial fluid. The fluid accumulates due to the inflammation of synovial membrane of the knee joint.

What is small effusion in the lungs?

A pleural effusion is a gathering of fluid that builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall. The pleura is a thin layer of membrane, which covers the lungs and the inner surface of the chest wall. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between the pleura but if this builds up it can cause a pleural effusion.

What is a pleural infection?

Pleural infection (either complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema) is an ancient problem, with the first recorded descriptions to be found in the medical texts of ancient Greece . Approximately four million people are affected by pneumonia each year, with close to half estimated to develop a parapneumonic effusion.