Parapneumonic Pleural EffusionSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the pleural space. The pleural space is the area between the layers of the tissue lining the lung and the chest cavity.
In a person with parapneumonic pleural effusion, the fluid buildup is caused by pneumonia.
Pleural effusion - pneumonia
Pneumonia, most commonly from bacteria, causes parapneumonic pleural effusion.
Symptoms can include any of the following:
- Chest pain, usually a sharp pain that is worse with cough or deep breaths
- Cough with sputum
- Fever
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the pneumonia.
If the person has shortness of breath, thoracentesis might be used to drain the fluid. If better drainage of the fluid is needed due to more severe infection, a drain tube can be inserted.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Adnan Majid is an Internal Medicine provider practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Majid is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion. He is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tracheobronchomalacia, Pleural Effusion, Acquired Tracheomalacia, Advanced Bronchoscopy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Majid is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Mihir Parikh is an Internal Medicine provider practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been practicing medicine for over 17 years. Dr. Parikh is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion. He is also highly rated in 19 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tracheobronchomalacia, Pleural Effusion, Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion, Advanced Bronchoscopy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Parikh is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine.
Majed Odeh practices practicing medicine in Haifa, Israel. Mr. Odeh is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion. He is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion, Pleural Effusion, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Adenosine Deaminase 2 Deficiency.
This condition improves when the pneumonia improves.
Complications may include:
- Lung damage
- Infection that turns into an abscess, called an empyema, which will need to be drained with a chest tube
- Collapsed lung (pneumothorax) after thoracentesis
- Scarring of the pleural space (lining of the lung)
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of pleural effusion.
Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if shortness of breath or difficulty breathing occurs right after thoracentesis.
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if giving certain medications once a day works just as well as giving them twice a day to treat infections around the lungs (called pleural infections). These medications-tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase)-are placed through a chest tube into the space between the lung and the chest wall to help clear out the infection. T...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to see if there is any benefit in adding saline irrigation through a chest tube to the standard course of treatment for people diagnosed or suspected of having a pleural space infection.
Published Date: August 19, 2024
Published By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Blok BK. Thoracentesis. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 9.
Broaddus VC, Light RW. Pleural effusion. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 108.
Reed JC. Pleural effusions. In: Reed JC, ed. Chest Radiology: Patterns and Differential Diagnoses. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 4.