Update in the Management of Pleural Effusions

Abstract

Pleural effusions are a common clinical problem for the primary care physician. Over the past 10 years, there has been a paradigm shift in the field due to emergence of new evidence, which includes the ubiquitous use of thoracic ultrasound, the reemergence of pleuroscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality, the widespread use of indwelling pleural catheters for malignant pleural effusions, and the evidence-based approach to management of complex parapneumonic effusions. This review focuses on these advancements with an emphasis on practical clinical application.

Keywords: Empyema; Indwelling pleural catheters; Malignant pleural effusion; Pleural effusion; Pleuroscopy.