Pleural Effusions
Posted on: October 4, 2023
Pleural effusion is one of the symptoms of Mesothelioma.
Pleural effusions occur when fluid accumulates between the linings of the lungs and the chest cavity.
As the accumulation of fluid gets more, “dyspnea” or shortness of breath occurs. The accumulation of fluid between the linings and chest cavity can also lead to pain.
CT Scans and X-Rays are used to identify and find pleural effusions in the body. CT scans and X-Rays also help to choose the course of treatments that will have to be made. See Mesothelioma Treatments.
MRIs can also be used to track pleural effusions but they are used lesser than CT scans and X-Rays.
Treatments for Pleural Effusions
1) Palliative therapy
This treatment is applied upon patients with malignant pleural effusions.
The overall health of the patient, the functioning of his or her body and the symptoms detected are used to decide whether palliative theraphy will be applied for treament of pleural effusions.
2) Chemical pleurodesis
Chemical pleurodesis is carried out in order to cause an irritation between the 2 layers that cover the lungs.
This irritation of the layers causes a dissolution of the space in the layers where the fluid accumulates.
This also causes further fluid accumulation to stop.
One of the methods of performing chemical pleurodesis is in the operating room under a video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) surgery.
After you are put to sleep, a surgeon will put a device called thoracoscope through a small incision in your chest.
The fluid causing pleural effusions is then removed this way. If required, a biopsy to examine pleural effusions in the body can be done.
A chest tube is then placed in the chest connected to a container that takes in the fluid. This tube is removed when your surgeon is ensured the fluid level in the chest has dropped.