background and objectives:infection of pleural fluid is a common disease and because of antibiotic administration, the microbiology of this fluid has changed. the aim of this study was to determine the common bacteria and suitable antibiotics for treatment in pleural effusion (pe). materials and methods: in this cross sectional study, 1210 samples with exudative features were cultured for poss...

BACKGROUND Definite diagnosis of transudative or exudative pleural fluids often presents a diagnostic dilemma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in pleural fluid has a diagnostic value for discriminating heart-failure-related pleural effusions from non-heart-failure effusions. METHODS Sixty-six subjects (40 male, mean age...

BACKGROUND Pleural effusions occur in patients with hematologic malignancies, particularly during periods of hospitalization. Thoracentesis is often performed to diagnose infection and to exclude the presence of complicated parapneumonic effusions. The efficacy and safety of thoracentesis in this setting has not been well-studied. DESIGN Retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients wit...

BACKGROUND Pleural infection remains a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and increased healthcare costs, despite advances in therapy. Twice daily intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/deoxyribonuclease (DNase) initiated at the time of diagnosis has been shown to significantly improve radiological outcomes and decrease the need for surgery. OBJECTIVE...

The diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TBPE) is frequently problematic. Several markers of TBPE in pleural fluid have been evaluated, with different results. Pleural effusions from 96 patients were classified on the basis of definitive diagnosis as tuberculous (n = 39), neoplastic (n = 42) or parapneumonic (n = 15). Adenosine deaminase (ADA), ADA isoform ADA-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma, C...

Intrapleural urokinase has not been evaluated systemically in terms of efficacy, safety, and cost of treatment in a large series of patients with complicated (parapneumonic) pleural effusions (CPE) and pleural empyemas (PE). Furthermore, the optimal dose and duration of treatment is not known. Twenty consecutive patients with multiloculated parapneumonic effusions (13 with CPE and 7 with PE), i...

Pediatric thoracostomy procedures are used in the emergency department to treat diseases of the pleural space. As children have unique thoracic anatomy and physiology, they may present with management challenges that the emergency clinician must consider. This issue reviews the use of chest tubes and pigtail catheters in pediatric patients, techniques and indications for placement, and possible...

Our study shows the different therapeutic procedures in 64 patients with pleural effusion due to MRSA pneumonia. The thoracostomy tube associated with pleural washing was decisive in 10 simple effusion patients. Video-assisted thoracic surgery allowed a complete resolution of the disease in 22 complex parapneumonic effusion patients. In 20 of 32 patients with frank pus in the pleural cavity, th...