Pleural effusion is a serious lung condition caused by fluid build-up around the lungs. It may start as a normal cough or chest pain but can have serious health ramifications when left untreated. Also, Pleural Effusion is also not a rare condition. It is believed to affect millions around the world every year. So the risk of pleural effusion is always lurking today and this is why one needs to know more about this condition to reduce its risk and seek the right medical options.
What causes Pleural Effusion?
Pleural Effusion is a condition that can be caused as a side-effect of many other serious health conditions. It is rare because it is not an independent medical condition but a complication of a serious underlying disease or medical condition.
The most probable one is cancer which triggers malignant growth of cancer cells in the pleural space which causes the fluid to build up. “Around 45% of the people diagnosed with lung cancer are expected to develop Pleural Effusion at some point in their life”, says the best lung transplant surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale. Also, certain types of cancers like lung breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lymphoma or mesothelioma are more likely to cause Pleural Effusion. Even the treatment given to these cancers – chemotherapy, radiation, abdominal surgery and other medications can trigger this condition. In addition to cancer, other medical conditions that spark the Effusion include heart, kidney and liver diseases, pneumonia, and lung collapse, blood clots in the lungs, trauma, lung inflammation and even poor nutrition.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Pleural Effusion:
Since Pleural Effusion is often a complication caused by a serious underlying medical condition, a variety of medical tests are performed to confirm the condition and identify the root cause. Medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, ultrasound, Thoracentesis, blood test and other required imaging studies are performed to diagnose the condition.
“Treatment for Pleural Effusion depends upon the root cause of the condition. If the cause of Pleural Effusion is Pneumonia, then antibiotics are usually prescribed to remove the fluid from the lungs. If congestive failure is the cause of Pleural Effusion, then diuretics are prescribed”, says the best lung surgeon in Telangana Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
