Snapshot A 56-year-old woman presents to the emergency department due to worsening shortness of breath and cough. Her symptoms began yesterday after receiving peritoneal dialysis. She denies any productive cough, fevers, or chills. Medical history is significant for end-stage renal disease secondary to poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, requiring peritoneal dialysis. Physical exam is notable for a woman with increased work of breathing and decreased breath sounds over the right lower lobe. A chest radiograph is performed, which demonstrates an extensive right pleural effusion. Introduction Definition excessive fluid in the pleural space Pathogenesis anatomy pleural fluid accumulation results when the formation of the pleural fluid exceeds its absorption pleural fluid enters the pleural space via capillaries within the parietal pleural interstitial spaces of the lung peritoneal cavity through holes in the diaphragm pleural fluid is removed from the pleural space via lymphatics in the parietal pleura disruption in any of these processes leads to the development of a pleural effusion effusions can be divided into transudative and exudative effusions transudative due to increased capillary pressure (e.g., congestive heart failure) or decreased plasma oncotic pressure (e.g., hypoalbuminemia) note, transudative pleural effusions result from alterations in systemic factors that affect the formation and absorption of pleural fluid exudative due to increased permeability of the pleural surfaces or impaired lymphatic reabsorption note, exudative pleural effusions result from alterations in local factors that affect the formation and absorption of pleural fluid Etiology transudative effusion left-sided heart failure cirrhosis nephrotic syndrome peritoneal dialysis atelectasis exudative effusion bacterial pneumonia malignancy viral infection pulmonary embolism tuberculosis collagen vascular disorder Prognosis depends on the cause of the pleural effusion Presentation Symptoms asymptomatic dyspnea on exertion peripheral edema Physical exam dullness to percussion decreased breath sounds on the effusion decreased tactile fremitus Imaging Radiography of the chest indication to determine the presence of a pleural effusion Studies Distinguishing transudative and exudative fluid requires the measuring of pleural and serum fluid levels lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) protein levels Thoracentesis with ultrasound guidance indication to collect pleural fluid in order to determine its etiology confirms the presence of pleural fluid Light criteria criteria used to differentiate transudative and exudative effusions protein (pleural)/protein (serum) > 0.5 LDH (pleura)/LDH (serum) > 0.6 LDH > 2/3rds the upper limit of normal serum LDH based on the Light criteria, a pleural effusion is said to be exudative if any of the above is met Treatment Depends on the underlying cause e.g., if there is an exudative effusion secondary to a bacterial pneumonia, treat with antibiotics Procedural therapeutic thoracentesis indication in cases where the pleural effusion is massive and its affecting the patient's breathing tube thoracostomy indication in complicated parapneumonic effusions or empyema Complications Parapneumonic effusion Empyema
QUESTIONS 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Previous Next Lab Values Blood Hematologic Cerebrospinal Sweat, Urine, and BMI Blood, Plasma, Serum Reference Range ALT 8-20 U/L Amylase, serum 25-125 U/L AST 8-20 U/L Bilirubin, serum (adult) Total // Direct 0.1-1.0 mg/dL // 0.0-0.3 mg/dL Calcium, serum (Ca2+) 8.4-10.2 mg/dL Cholesterol, serum Rec: < 200 mg/dL Cortisol, serum 0800 h: 5-23 μg/dL //1600 h: 3-15 μg/dL 2000 h: ≤ 50% of 0800 h Creatine kinase, serum Male: 25-90 U/LFemale: 10-70 U/L Creatinine, serum 0.6-1.2 mg/dL Electrolytes, serum Sodium (Na+) 136-145 mEq/L Chloride (Cl-) 95-105 mEq/L Potassium (K+) 3.5-5.0 mEq/L Bicarbonate (HCO3-) 22-28 mEq/L Magnesium (Mg2+) 1.5-2.0 mEq/L Estriol, total, serum (in pregnancy) 24-28 wks // 32-36 wks 30-170 ng/mL // 60-280 ng/mL 28-32 wk // 36-40 wks 40-220 ng/mL // 80-350 ng/mL Ferritin, serum Male: 15-200 ng/mLFemale: 12-150 ng/mL Follicle-stimulating hormone, serum/plasma Male: 4-25 mIU/mL Female: premenopause: 4-30 mIU/mL midcycle peak: 10-90 mIU/mL postmenopause: 40-250 pH 7.35-7.45 PCO2 33-45 mmHg PO2 75-105 mmHg Glucose, serum Fasting: 70-110 mg/dL2-h postprandial:<120 mg/dL Growth hormone - arginine stimulation Fasting: <5 ng/mLProvocative stimuli: > 7ng/mL Immunoglobulins, serum IgA 76-390 mg/dL IgE 0-380 IU/mL IgG 650-1500 mg/dL IgM 40-345 mg/dL Iron 50-170 μg/dL Lactate dehydrogenase, serum 45-90 U/L Luteinizing hormone, serum/plasma Male: 6-23 mIU/mL Female: follicular phase: 5-30 mIU/mL midcycle: 75-150 mIU/mL postmenopause 30-200 mIU/mL Osmolality, serum 275-295 mOsmol/kd H2O Parathyroid hormone, serume, N-terminal 230-630 pg/mL Phosphatase (alkaline), serum (p-NPP at 30° C) 20-70 U/L Phosphorus (inorganic), serum 3.0-4.5 mg/dL Prolactin, serum (hPRL) < 20 ng/mL Proteins, serum Total (recumbent) 6.0-7.8 g/dL Albumin 3.5-5.5 g/dL Globulin 2.3-3.5 g/dL Thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum or plasma .5-5.0 μU/mL Thyroidal iodine (123I) uptake 8%-30% of administered dose/24h Thyroxine (T4), serum 5-12 μg/dL Triglycerides, serum 35-160 mg/dL Triiodothyronine (T3), serum (RIA) 115-190 ng/dL Triiodothyronine (T3) resin uptake 25%-35% Urea nitrogen, serum 7-18 mg/dL Uric acid, serum 3.0-8.2 mg/dL Hematologic Reference Range Bleeding time 2-7 minutes Erythrocyte count Male: 4.3-5.9 million/mm3Female: 3.5-5.5 million mm3 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Westergren) Male: 0-15 mm/hFemale: 0-20 mm/h Hematocrit Male: 41%-53%Female: 36%-46% Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 6 % Hemoglobin, blood Male: 13.5-17.5 g/dLFemale: 12.0-16.0 g/dL Hemoglobin, plasma 1-4 mg/dL Leukocyte count and differential Leukocyte count 4,500-11,000/mm3 Segmented neutrophils 54%-62% Bands 3%-5% Eosinophils 1%-3% Basophils 0%-0.75% Lymphocytes 25%-33% Monocytes 3%-7% Mean corpuscular hemoglobin 25.4-34.6 pg/cell Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration 31%-36% Hb/cell Mean corpuscular volume 80-100 μm3 Partial thromboplastin time (activated) 25-40 seconds Platelet count 150,000-400,000/mm3 Prothrombin time 11-15 seconds Reticulocyte count 0.5%-1.5% of red cells Thrombin time < 2 seconds deviation from control Volume Plasma Male: 25-43 mL/kgFemale: 28-45 mL/kg Red cell Male: 20-36 mL/kgFemale: 19-31 mL/kg Cerebrospinal Fluid Reference Range Cell count 0-5/mm3 Chloride 118-132 mEq/L Gamma globulin 3%-12% total proteins Glucose 40-70 mg/dL Pressure 70-180 mm H2O Proteins, total < 40 mg/dL Sweat Reference Range Chloride 0-35 mmol/L Urine Calcium 100-300 mg/24 h Chloride Varies with intake Creatinine clearance Male: 97-137 mL/minFemale: 88-128 mL/min Estriol, total (in pregnancy) 30 wks 6-18 mg/24 h 35 wks 9-28 mg/24 h 40 wks 13-42 mg/24 h 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids Male: 3.0-10.0 mg/24 hFemale: 2.0-8.0 mg/24 h 17-Ketosteroids, total Male: 8-20 mg/24 hFemale: 6-15 mg/24 h Osmolality 50-1400 mOsmol/kg H2O Oxalate 8-40 μg/mL Potassium Varies with diet Proteins, total < 150 mg/24 h Sodium Varies with diet Uric acid Varies with diet Body Mass Index (BMI) Adult: 19-25 kg/m2 Calculator ( ) xy AC 7 8 9 ÷ 4 5 6 × 1 2 3 - 0 . = + Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK You have 100% on this question. Just skip this one for now. Take This Question Anyway (M2.PL.17.4799) A 69-year-old female comes to the emergency department complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. She reports that she had a heart attack a few weeks ago that was treated with cardiac catheterization. At that time she had chest pain, but reports that this chest pain is different. A review of systems is significant for headaches, a productive cough with frothy sputum, and paresthesias in her fingertips. The patient’s temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 130/78 mmHg, pulse is 78/min, and respirations are 20/min with an oxygen saturation of 96% O2 on room air. A chest radiograph is obtained, as shown in Figure A. Which of the following would you expect to find upon physical exam? Review Topic | Tested Concept QID: 109320 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Crepitus 24% (10/42) 2 Decreased tactile fremitus 33% (14/42) 3 Increased pectoriloquy 10% (4/42) 4 Increased tympanic percussion 7% (3/42) 5 Kussmaul breathing 14% (6/42) L 2 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 You have 100% on this question. Just skip this one for now. Take This Question Anyway (M2.PL.17.4799) A 67-year-old male comes into the ED complaining of dyspnea and a heavy feeling in his chest. He reports that over the past month he has become more easily “winded" to the point that he now sleeps in his living room because he can’t make it up the stairs. A review of systems is notable for headaches and fatigue. On physical exam you note decreased breath sounds and a dullness to percussion on the right. A chest radiograph is obtained, which shows a right-sided pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis is performed and the fluid is analyzed, with results shown below:Volume: 30 cc of fluidPleural fluid protein: 5.8 g/dLSerum protein ratio: 7.0 g/dLLactate dehydrogenase (LDH): 258 U/LWhich of the following conditions may have led to the findings in this patient’s pleural cavity? Review Topic | Tested Concept QID: 109321 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Congestive heart failure 7% (2/27) 2 Hypoalbuminemia 0% (0/27) 3 Liver cirrhosis 7% (2/27) 4 Lymphoma 81% (22/27) 5 Nephrotic syndrome 4% (1/27) L 2 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4