Pleural Disorders - Diagnosis and Treatment By Baltimore Interventional Pulmonologist

Pleural disorders occur when injury, inflammation or infection causes blood, fluid or air to build up between the outside of the lung and chest cavity. The most common type of pleural disorder is called a pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is often called 'water on the lungs.' It occurs when fluid builds up between the chest wall and the lung - this space is referred to as the pleura. Pleural effusions do not always cause symptoms, but when symptoms occur patients often experience difficulty breathing. There are many causes of pleural effusion. Some of the most common causes of pleural effusion include:

• Heart failure
• Liver cirrhosis
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Kidney disease
• Cancers (lung cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma)

Patients with a pleural effusion will experience symptoms when there is a significant amount of fluid build-up. If symptoms are present, they may include:

• Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply (Pleurisy)
• Shortness of breath
• Dry cough
• Fever and chills
• Difficulty breathing when lying down (Orthopnea)

In our dedicated pleural clinic, Mercy experts diagnose pleural effusion through a variety of advanced diagnostic testing, including:

• X-ray
• Computed tomography (CT) of the chest
• Ultrasound of the chest
• Thoracentesis (a procedure where a needle is inserted to remove fluid around the lungs)
• Pleural biopsy

Often treating the medical condition that causes the pleural effusion will resolve the fluid build-up.

In cases where pleural effusions cause severe respiratory symptoms, providers may treat the symptoms of pleural effusion. Some treatment options include:

• Medications
• Thoracentesis
• Indwelling pleural catheters
• Thoracic Surgery