RT Book, Section
A1 Redman, Richard C.
A1 Shofer, Scott L.
A1 Wahidi, Momen M.
A2 Carmody, Kristin A.
A2 Moore, Christopher L.
A2 Feller-Kopman, David
SR Print(0)
ID 56301743
T1 Chapter 18. Ultrasound for Thoracentesis
T2 Handbook of Critical Care and Emergency Ultrasound
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-160489-5
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56301743
RD 2024/04/18
AB Pleural  effusion  is  a  commonly  encountered  condition,  which  may  arise  as  a  consequence  of  a  number  of  disease  states  including  malignancy,  infections,  and  inflammatory  conditions.  Patients  may  develop  complaints  of  shortness  of  breath,  dyspnea  on  exertion,  or  pleuritic  chest  pain  as  part  of  their  initial  presentation.  Sampling  and  drainage  of  pleural  effusions  is  important  to  adequately  diagnose  the  patient's  condition  and  to  alleviate  their  respiratory  symptoms.  Thoracic  ultrasound  is  an  invaluable  tool  for  characterizing  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  effusion  as  well  as  facilitating  safe  sampling  or  drainage  of  the  fluid.  Thoracic  ultrasound  is  also  useful  for  the  rapid  visualization  of  the  parietal  and  visceral  pleural  surfaces,  evaluation  for  pneumothorax,  and  to  some  extent  the  evaluation  of  the  lung  parenchyma.