Pneumothorax and pleural effusion by dr chaitanya with pathophysiology of pleural effusion 2024

Pneumothorax and pleural effusion- diagnosis and management with MCQs

Table of Contents(toc)

left sided pneumothorax

PNEUMOTHORAX

Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space.

Two types

• Traumatic pneumothorax
• Spontaneous pneumothorax

Traumatic pneumothorax 

• Results from penetrating or non-penetrating chest injuries.

Iatrogenic

• Transthoracic needle aspiration
• Thoracentesis
• The insertion of central intravenous catheters

Spontaneous 

• Primary Pneumothorax

1. No evidence of overt lung disease.
2. Due to rupture of a small subpleural emphysematous bulla or pleural bleb, or the pulmonary end of a pleural adhesion
3. Occur almost exclusively in smokers
4. one-half of patients will have a recurrence

• Secondary Pneumothorax

1. Underlying lung disease, most commonly COPD and TB;
2. also seen in asthma, lung abscess, pulmonary infarcts, bronchogenic carcinoma, all forms of fibrotic and cystic lung disease

Tension pneumothorax

• Results from a wound in the chest wall which acts as a valve that permits air to enter the pleural cavity but prevents its escape
• Intrapleural pressure rises to well above atmospheric levels. 
• The pressure causes mediastinal displacement towards the opposite side, with compression of the opposite normal lung 
• Impairment of systemic venous return, causing cardiovascular compromise

Closed pneumothorax

• Communication between the airway and the pleural space seals off
• mean pleural pressure remains negative
• reabsorption of air, re-expansion, infection is uncommon

Open pneumothorax

• Communication fails to seal and air continues to pass freely
• Occur following rupture of an emphysematous bulla, tuberculous cavity or lung abscess into the pleural space
• Infection is common

Clinical Features of tension pneumothorax

• sudden-onset unilateral pleuritic chest pain or breathlessness
• larger pneumothorax (> 15% of the hemithorax) results in decreased or absent breath sounds
• combination of absent breath sounds and resonant percussion note is diagnostic of pneumothorax.

• Inspection

• Tachypnoea (pain, deflation reflex)

• Palpation

• ↓Expansion

• Percussion

• Resonant or hyper-resonant

• Auscultation

• Absent breath sounds

Tension pneumothorax also causes

• Deviation of trachea to opposite side
• Tachycardia and hypotension
• Cyanosis 

Investigations for pneumothorax

• Chest X-ray

• Sharply defined edge of the deflated lung with complete translucency
• Extent of any mediastinal displacement and reveal any pleural fluid or underlying pulmonary disease.

• CT scan
•  In doubt, distinguish bullae from pleural air.

Treatment of tension pneumothorax

• Primary pneumothorax with lung edge < 2 cm from the chest wall, not breathless requires no intervention.

Percutaneous needle aspiration of air 

• In young patients with a moderate or large spontaneous primary pneumothorax
• Intercostal tube drainage
• In those over 50 years old and those with respiratory compromise

Surgical pleurodesis 

• Recommended following a second pneumothorax
• should be considered following the first episode of secondary pneumothorax if low respiratory reserve makes recurrence hazardous. 

• Pleurodesis can be achieved by pleural abrasion or parietal pleurectomy at thoracotomy or thoracoscopy.
• Prevents recurrences

Post Chest Tube monitoring: what to look for after keeping a chest tube

• After 24 hours;  if lungs reinflated and no bubblingremove drain
• Continuing bubbling after 5- 7days  is indication of surgery
• High flow O2 supplement- may speed resolution
• If bubbling stops before full inflation of lung then tube is either blocked , kinked or displaced
• Pleural Effusion 

Pleural effusion:

Pleural Fluid

• Excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. 
• Detected clinically, when ≥ 500 mL is present.
• Produced and absorbed at a rate of 15mL per day
• Each pleural space contains 10mL of fluid

The estimated prevalence of pleural effusion is 320 cases per 100,000 people.

Causes of pleural effusion:

Pathophysiology of pleural effusion:

Fluid enters the pleural space:

• from the capillaries in the parietal pleura
• from the peritoneal cavity via small holes in the diaphragm
• Fluid removed via the lymphatics situated in the parietal pleura. 

lymphatics have capacity to absorb 20 times more fluid than is normally formed.

Pleural fluid accumulates when:

pleural fluid formation >pleural fluid absorption. 

Exudative or Transudative

Alteration of hydrostatic and/or oncotic factors  Increases the formation or decreases the reabsorption  Transudate

Direct or cytokine induced pleural membrane and/or vascular damage  Increased capillary permeability  Exudate

Types of pleural effusion:

Transudative effusion

1. Congestive Heart failure
2. Cirrhosis 
3. Pulmonary embolization 
4. Neoplastic syndrome
5. Constrictive pericarditis
6. Hypothyroidism

Exudative effusion:

1. Bacterial pneumonia (common)
2. Tuberculosis
3. Carcinoma of the bronchus
4. Pulmonary infarction
5. Autoimmune 
6. -Rheumatic diseases
7. - SLE 

Clinical features of pleural effuion:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain, especially on breathing in deeply (pleurisy, or pleuritic pain)
• Fever
• Cough

How Patient Presents in pleural effusion?

History in pleural effusion

• Pain on inspiration and coughing
• Often  asymptomatic
• Pleurisy 

Examination finding in pleural effusion:

1. Chest wall movement : Reduced in affected side 
2. trachea and mediastinum shift away from affected side
3.  With massive effusion (>1000ml)]
4. Percussion note: Stony dull 
5. Breath sounds: Vesicular
6. (Reduced or absent)
7. Vocal resonance: Reduced or absent

On Chest Examination of pleural effusion following findings  can be found:

• Bronchial breathing may be present
• Expansion ↓
• Percussion  stony dull
• Air entry ↓
• Vocal resonance ↓
• With massive effusion (>1000ml) trachea and mediastinum shift away from affected side\

Diagnostic Approach in pleural effusion

Light’s criteria for Exudative Effusion

• Pleural fluid protein: serum protein >0.5
• Pleural fluid LDH: serum LDH >0.6
• Pleural fluid LDH > 2/3 upper limit of normal for serum
• Investigations 
• Serum
• CBC
• LDH
• protein
• Coagulation studies (PT, PTT, INR )

Pleural fluid analysis for pleural effusion:

• Note color and consistency
• Chemistries: Protein, albumin, LDH, glucose, pH
• Cell count with differential
• Microbiological stains and culture 
• Cytology

Pleural fluid finding in effusion

Lateral decubitus x ray in pleural effusion:

• Demonstrates fluidity
• Suggest for thoracentesis if fluid layer > 1cm. 
• Transudates
• Usually resolve with treatment of underlying cause
• Therapeutic thoracentesis in persistent larger effusion
• Pleurodesis, shunts, or placement of a indwelling pleural catheter for palliation

Treatment of pleural effuusion:

• Simple Parapneumonic Effusion

• Antiobiotics
• Selected base on causing organism
• Generally anaerobic coverage
•   ( clindamycine, imipenem, extended spectrum penicillin )
• Close observation

• Complicated Parapneumonic Effusion
• Antiobiotics

• Early thoracostomy tube drainage
• Surgical decortication if extensive pleural thickening, fibrous organization, and /or multiple loculations.
• Malignant Pleural Effusion
• 2nd most common type of exudative pleural effusion (lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, & lymphoma)
• Diagnosis: cytology of the pleural fluid
• If cytology is negative, thoracoscopy is done if malignancy is suspected

Management  of pleural effusion

• Symptomatic treatment 
• Tube thoracostomy ( sclerosing agents : doxycycline )
• Plurodesis when there is rapid reaccumulation of fluid
• Insertion of indwelling pleural catheter

Complications of pleural effsuion if untreated

1. empyema
2. constrictive fibrosis
3. Sepsis
4.  lung cancer

Nursing care for pleural effusion and chest tube inserted patient

• Observe for infection, local inflammation
• Check dressing
• Check if tube is blocked
• Mobilization care
• Check for amount and color of drainage
• Pain management
• Ensure breathing and lung reexpansion in case of collapse
• Prevent clamping
• Ensure positioning

References

• Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 21st edition
• Harrison’s Principle of Internal Medicine, 18th edition

MCQs related to pleral effusion:

What is pleural effusion?

a) Accumulation of air in the pleural space

b) Collection of fluid in the pleural space

c) Infection of the pleural cavity

Answer: b) Collection of fluid in the pleural space

What is pneumothorax?

a) Collection of fluid in the pleural space

b) Accumulation of air in the pleural space

c) Infection of the pleural cavity

Answer: b) Accumulation of air in the pleural space

Which condition is more likely to cause chest pain?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions can cause chest pain

Answer: c) Both conditions can cause chest pain

Which condition is more likely to cause shortness of breath?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions can cause shortness of breath

Answer: c) Both conditions can cause shortness of breath

Which of the following imaging studies is most commonly used to diagnose pleural effusion?

a) Chest x-ray

b) Computed tomography (CT)

c) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer: a) Chest x-ray

Which of the following conditions can be diagnosed by thoracentesis?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions can be diagnosed by thoracentesis

Answer: a) Pleural effusion

Which of the following imaging studies is most commonly used to diagnose pneumothorax?

a) Chest x-ray

b) Computed tomography (CT)

c) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer: a) Chest x-ray

Which of the following conditions can be treated with a chest tube?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions can be treated with a chest tube

Answer: c) Both conditions can be treated with a chest tube

What is the primary treatment for small, uncomplicated pneumothorax?

a) Observation

b) Chest tube insertion

c) Surgery

Answer: a) Observation

What is the primary treatment for large, complicated pneumothorax?

a) Observation

b) Chest tube insertion

c) Surgery

Answer: b) Chest tube insertion

Which of the following is a potential complication of pleural effusion?

a) Respiratory failure

b) Cardiac arrest

c) Seizures

Answer: a) Respiratory failure

Which of the following is a potential complication of pneumothorax?

a) Respiratory failure

b) Cardiac arrest

c) Seizures

Answer: a) Respiratory failure

Which of the following conditions is more common in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions are equally common in individuals with COPD

Answer: b) Pneumothorax

Which of the following conditions is more common in individuals with heart failure?

a) Pleural effusion

b) Pneumothorax

c) Both conditions are equally common in individuals with heart failure

Answer: a) Pleural effusion

What is the most important factor in determining the severity of pneumothorax?

a) The size of the pneumothorax

b) The cause of the pneumothorax

c) The location of the pneumothorax

Answer: a) The size of the pneumothorax

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