Pleural effusion

If there is someone who has symptoms of shortness of breath, dysphagia, chest pain, and should ask whether there is a history of exposure to asbestos for long periods or not. In the presence of all these symptoms and asbestos disease is usually a diagnosis. However, in some cases can progress to asbestos disease mesothelioma.

Usually indicates the diagnosis of mesothelioma is displayed in a number of troublesome symptoms that can severely affect quality of life of the patient. One of those symptoms is pleural effusion, and the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, who knows that surrounds the lung. It can make the expansion of the liquid in the lungs, causing difficult pain in the chest and dry cough in the patient, leading to difficulty in breathing.


Mesothelium is the protective linings surrounding the cavities of the body. Pleura is the lining of the lung, peritoneum surrounding the abdominal cavity, and pericardium sac surrounding the heart. Effusion is common with pleural mesothelioma.

A large amount of effusion fluids. Is a symptom of a larger disease. For patients with mesothelioma, effusion is common and can affect the pleura or pericardium. Accumulation of fluid in the lining between the lungs and chest cavity with pleural effusion.

Sometimes found a small amount of lubricating fluid in the pericardium or pleura peritoneum. This fluid comes from the surrounding tissues. If the quantity exceeds the normal fluid is usually a few teaspoons has not been evacuated yet. The effusion occurs.

If effusion is present and the collection and retention of fluids prevents the system function because it affects. With pleural effusion - effusion pleural exudate - is intense pressure on the lungs prevents normal breathing and can cause breathing or shortness of breath.

Secretion occurs in the pleural effusion by inflammation in the lungs of tumor growth. Sometimes transudate pleural effusion occurs with mesothelioma when fluid leaks from blood vessels stalled. In many cases, cancer mesothelioma symptoms provide both transudate and exudate pleural effusion.

Symptoms of pleural effusion
Some patients with pleural effusion have no symptoms were discovered by accident case with X-rays that are performed for another reason. The patient may have symptoms unrelated to the illness or condition that caused the effusion.

Symptoms of pleural effusion include:
Pain in the chest
Dry non-productive cough
Shortness of breath
Orthopnea know not being able to breathe more easily during sleep and should be the person sitting up straight or to stand upright.

How is diagnosis of pleural effusion ?
Pleural effusion is very common symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, especially as the disease progresses to later stages. In order to determine whether a pleural effusion is present, the doctor will be required to test X-ray imaging. And effusion appear on the X-ray accumulation time and reached about 300 ml. Before that, it may be difficult for the liquid immediately in the image of the chest.

However, there are other signs of pleural effusion that help in the diagnosis of the situation. These include diminished breath sounds on the affected side and reduce the movement of the chest on the affected side, decreased vocal resonance. Some of these symptoms can also indicate the presence of pneumonia and other diseases or disorders may be more than that and ordered tests to determine an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of pleural effusion
Chemotherapy for the treatment of mesothelioma can alleviate effusion. However, in some cases, if the effusion can be very draining fluid through the installation of tube in the chest surgically.

Sometimes the doctor also recommends an operation known as pleurodesis. This solution is more in the long term for a person with recurrent pleural effusion. And pleurodesis involves the introduction of talc in the pleural cavity. And talc cause irritation between the parietal and deep layers of the pleura, closing the space between them and prevent further accumulation of fluid. It uses a local anesthetic or generalized during pleurodesis. Although this is not technically surgery, it is painful and may need to stay in the hospital for Musahthspa of complications.

And generally treated the patient with pleural effusion due to mesothelioma with the procedure known as thoracentesis. This involves inserting a needle into the pleural space in the minutes for the perfusion fluid. This procedure makes breathing easier and relieve pressure on the lungs. Some patients need this procedure is repeated again and again to keep the space free of pleural fluid.

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