Pleural Diseases
Pleura is the outer covering of the lungs. Sometimes fluid can accumulate between the two layers of pleura within the chest wall. Tthis could be due to various reasons such as infection, cancer, heart failure, Kidney Disease etc.
After confirming the presence of pleural fluid with a chest ultrasonogram, trained doctors will aspirate a small quantity of the fluid to perform diagnostic assessment. In most cases the diagnosis can be confirmed based on this analysis, along with other investigation such as baterial or TB culture, echocardiogram and blood tests. Certain other patients may require an endoscopic biopsy from the pleura (also known as thoracoscopy) or a direct ultrasound-guided plural biopsy.
Some patients may need a chest tube for a few days until the entire collection of pleural fluid is drained.
