Free Pleural Effusion PowerPoint Infographics

Pleural Effusion: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment – 10 Key Medical Insights

1. What Is Pleural Effusion?
   Pleural effusion is the abnormal buildup of fluid in the pleural space—the area between the lungs and chest wall—often due to heart failure, infections, or cancer.
2. Types of Pleural Effusion: Transudate vs. Exudate
   Transudative effusions result from pressure imbalances (e.g., CHF, cirrhosis), while exudative effusions arise from inflammation or malignancy (e.g., pneumonia, TB, mesothelioma).
3. Symptoms of Pleural Effusion
   Common signs include shortness of breath, chest pain, dry cough, reduced breath sounds, and fever. Severe effusions may cause respiratory distress.
4. Major Causes by Prevalence
   Parapneumonic effusion (25.1%), malignancy (23.7%), and TB (12.3%) are top causes globally. MPE is common in lung, breast, and lymphoma cases.
5. How Pleural Fluid Is Diagnosed
   Imaging tools like chest X-rays, CT scans, ultrasonography, and FDG-PET help visualize fluid buildup. Diagnostic thoracentesis and Light’s criteria distinguish transudates from exudates.
6. Light’s Criteria for Fluid Analysis
   These criteria assess pleural fluid protein, LDH, and cholesterol to determine if an effusion is exudative or transudative, aiding in accurate diagnosis and management.
7. Complications of Pleural Effusion
   Untreated cases can lead to empyema (infection), pneumothorax (collapsed lung), pleural thickening, and respiratory compromise—especially post-thoracentesis.
8. Treatment & Drainage Techniques
   Management includes thoracentesis, chest tubes for empyema, pleurodesis to prevent recurrence, and surgery (pleurectomy, thoracotomy) in advanced or loculated cases.
9. Modern Approaches to Prevention
   Key prevention methods include smoking cessation, avoiding asbestos, using diuretics in heart failure, and managing systemic diseases early to prevent effusion development.
10. Epidemiology & At-Risk Populations
    Pleural effusion affects over 1.5 million people annually in the U.S. and 4,684 per million adults in China. Smokers and those with cancer are at higher risk for malignant effusions.

‍