14 Pleural Disease

Pneumothorax

• hole in lung

• rupture of lung tissue
• usually secondary to lung disease (damaged lung tissue)

• pleuritic: deep breath stretch pleura, pain

• create gradient to allow N2 reabsorption from pleural space into capillary

• with inhale, air enter space. With exhale, flap shut and doesn't let air out
• spontaneous PTX: shrinking of the affected side, trachea shift towards side
• tension PTX: shift away

Pleural Effusion

• meniscus up top
• loss of black lung fields and loss of costophrenic angles

Transudative

• capillary membrane intact, keeps protein in

Exudative

• leaky, plasma and protein leak out
• feared cause: malignancy. Tumors can cause capillaries to become leaky

Lymphatic

• thoracic duct drain lymphoid. If it's obstructed or can't drain, then effusion
• open heart surgery

Others

Mesothelioma