Ultrasound quantification of pleural effusion volume in supine position: comparison of three model formulae.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the accuracy of three model formulae for ultrasound quantification of pleural effusion (PE) volume in patients in supine position. METHODS: A prospective study including 100 patients with thoracentesis and drainage of PE was conducted. Three model formulae (single section model, two section model and multi-section model) were used to calculate the PE volume. The correlation and consistency analyses between calculated volumes derived from three models and actual PE volume were performed. RESULTS: PE volumes calculated by three models all showed significant linear correlations with actual PE volume in supine position (all p < 0.001). The reliability of multi-section model in predicting PE volume was significantly higher than that of single section model and slightly higher than that of two section model. When compared with actual drainage volume, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) of single section model, two section model and multi-section model were 0.72, 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. Significant consistency between calculated PE volumes by using two section model and multi-section model existed for full PE volume range (ICC 0.98). CONCLUSION: Based on the convenience and accuracy of ultrasound quantification of PE volume, two section model is recommended for pleural effusion assessment in routine clinic, though different model formulae can be selected according to clinical needs.

Bupivacaine pleural effusion mimicking a hemothorax after a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy with epidural anesthesia.

PURPOSE: Post-operative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is often treated using thoracic epidural analgesics or thoracic paravertebral analgesics. This article describes a case where a thoracic disc herniation is treated with a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy with post-operative thoracic epidural analgesics. The patient developed a bupivacaine pleural effusion which mimicked a hemothorax on computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The presence of bupivacaine in the pleural effusion was confirmed using a high performance liquid chromatography method. RESULTS: The patient underwent a re-exploration to relieve the pleural effusion. The patient showed a long-term recovery similar to what can be expected from an uncomplicated thoracoscopic microdiscectomy. CONCLUSION: A pleural effusion may occur when thoracic epidural analgesics are used in patents with a corridor between the pleural cavity and epidural space.

Isolation and identification of hoylesella marshii causing pleural infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hoylesella marshii can be isolated from human oral cavities affected by dental pulp and periodontal infections, as well as from the dental plaque of healthy individuals, making it a common bacterium within the oral microbiota. However, its role in causing pleural infections in humans is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of purulent pleural effusion occurred shortly after discharge in an elderly patient who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer. The infection was identified as being caused by an obligate anaerobe through laboratory culture, and was further identified as Hoylesella marshii causing pleural infection through 16 S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Susceptibility testing guided precise treatment with cefoperazone-sulbactam and metronidazole. The patient's clinical symptoms improved rapidly, laboratory test indicators gradually returned to normal, and the patient ultimately recovered. CONCLUSION: Hoylesella marshii can cause pleural infections in humans. Clinical microbiology laboratories should pay special attention to the cultivation of obligate anaerobes when routine aerobic cultures do not show bacterial growth but bacteria are visible on smear staining, and when conventional identification methods fail to identify the bacterium, analysis based on the highly conserved 16 S rRNA gene sequence can accurately and specifically identify the bacterium, guiding clinicians in formulating precise anti-infection strategies.

PICC tip dislodgement causing massive pleural effusion and atelectasis with acute respiratory failure: a case report.

Peripheral intravenous central catheter (PICC) is a common tool for intravenous infusion for children who need central venous access. Although it is safe for physicians and nurses to place, complications like infection, occlusion, phlebitis, and bleeding can occur. We report a 5-month-old infant who suffered respiratory failure caused by catheter malposition resulting in massive fluid infusion into the thoracic cavity. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was utilized to identify a massive pleural effusion that prompted urgent drainage. Complications related to PICC in pediatric patients are not common but difficult to immediately identify sometimes. Therefore, careful attention should be paid by physicians to identify and reduce the risk of complications associated with PICC. Thus, visual tools are strongly advised to enhance the safety of invasive procedures.

Thoracic endometrial syndrome with unilateral exudative pleural effusion.

A woman in her 40s presented with exertional dyspnoea with an absence of haemoptysis, cough, fever and weight loss. The patient had a medical history of extensive endometriosis. Investigations revealed a large right-sided pleural effusion. The effusion was aspirated and was exudative in nature.A contrast-enhanced CT thorax was performed to help exclude dual pathology. The only positive finding was bilateral breast nodules, subsequently found to be benign fibroadenomas on histological analysis of biopsy samples.After malignancy was ruled out as a cause, the patient was referred for medical thoracoscopy for a biopsy and other investigations. Histology demonstrated the presence of endometrial tissue in the pleura and thereby confirmed the diagnosis of thoracic endometrial syndrome.Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery repair of diaphragm and talc pleurodesis was carried out in an uncomplicated procedure and the patient was discharged with good recovery.

Dirofilariasis presenting as pleural effusion: a rare case report with unusual manifestations and treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND: We present an extremely rare manifestation of dirofilariasis in the pleural cavity. This is the first human pulmonary dirofilariasis reported in Lithuania; according to our knowledge, only two other patients were documented with this pathology in the world. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of dyspnea, left-side chest pain, and a dry cough. She was a retiree living alone in the countryside without domestic pets (sometimes stray dogs appear) or a travel history. A complete blood count was within normal limits, with a CRP level of 16.8 mg/l and D-dimer concentration of 900 µg/l, which raised suspicion of pulmonary embolism. In chest computed tomography angiography, pulmonary embolism was excluded, and only left pleural effusion without abnormal lesions was confirmed. Left thoracocentesis was performed, and the pleural fluid was evaluated as an exudate with a predominance of eosinophils (59%), along with the presence of parasites. These parasites exhibited the morphology of Dirofilaria repens. Oral doxycycline (100 mg, twice daily) and albendazole (400 mg, twice daily) were prescribed for a 14-day course. A month later, there were no pathological findings on the chest X-ray, and the patient no longer had respiratory symptoms. However, the patient presented with an emerged, painful palpable right breastmass, where the rash was previously observed. Ultrasound imaging revealed a 1.5 × 2 cm nodule, which was surgically removed. Parasites consistent with Dirofilaria repens were suspected but not definitively identified. Pharmacological treatment for dirofilariasis was not further prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: This case encourages doctors to be more vigilant because the patient, who neither travelled nor kept any pets, contracted dirofilariasis. Diagnostic and treatment guidelines are lacking, necessitating further research. Treatment with doxycycline and albendazole yielded positive outcomes, suggesting potential efficacy for dirofilarial pleuritis.

Intrapleural nivolumab in cancer patients with pleural effusion.

ABSTRACT: We assessed the preliminary efficacy and toxicity of intrapleural instillation of nivolumab in patients with large pleural effusion. Patients with metastatic cancers who have a large volume of pleural effusion and required evacuation were eligible. Thoracentesis followed by nivolumab (40 mg, single intrapleural instillation) was performed. The primary endpoint was 3-month recurrence-free survival. A total of 13 patients were enrolled. The study was terminated after stage 1 as no efficacy was observed; 7 patients (54%) had a recurrence of pleural effusion at 3 months. Thirteen (100%) patients had no recurrence, dyspnea, or cough within 1 month, and the median time to recurrence was 1.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-2.5). No adverse events were identified. We concluded that a single intrapleural instillation of the nivolumab at 40 mg was ineffective and well-tolerated in cancer patients with pleural effusion.

Bilothorax: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review of the Rare Entity.

Background: Bilothorax is defined as the presence of bile in the pleural space. It is a rare condition, and diagnosis is confirmed with a pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of >1. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL databases were searched using predetermined Boolean parameters. The systematic literature review was done per PRISMA guidelines. Retrospective studies, case series, case reports, and conference abstracts were included. The patients with reported pleural fluid analyses were pooled for fluid parameter data analysis. Results: Of 838 articles identified through the inclusion criteria and removing 105 duplicates, 732 articles were screened with abstracts, and 285 were screened for full article review. After this, 123 studies qualified for further detailed review, and of these, 115 were pooled for data analysis. The mean pleural fluid and serum bilirubin levels were 72 mg/dL and 61 mg/dL, respectively, with a mean pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of 3.47. In most cases, the bilothorax was reported as a subacute or remote complication of hepatobiliary surgery or procedure, and traumatic injury to the chest or abdomen was the second most common cause. Tube thoracostomy was the main treatment modality (73.83%), followed by serial thoracentesis. Fifty-two patients (51.30%) had associated bronchopleural fistulas. The mortality was considerable, with 18/115 (15.65%) reported death. Most of the patients with mortality had advanced hepatobiliary cancer and were noted to die of complications not related to bilothorax. Conclusion: Bilothorax should be suspected in patients presenting with pleural effusion following surgical manipulation of hepatobiliary structures or a traumatic injury to the chest. This review is registered with CRD42023438426.

Bilateral myelomatous pleural effusions: an unusual presentation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a rare haematological malignancy characterised by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Typical manifestations include bone pain, fatigue and monoclonal protein elevation in serum and urine. Less than 1% of cases develop myelomatous pleural effusion, a severe complication indicative of advanced disease and a very poor prognosis.Here, we present a case of a woman with a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma complicated by bilateral myelomatous pleural effusions as the initial presentation. This case underscores the diverse clinical spectrum of multiple myeloma, the significance of timely diagnosis and the threatening implications associated with myelomatous pleural effusions.

Prognostic significance of Pleural Fluid triglyceride levels based on a low-Fat Diet Management Strategy in patients with Chylothorax following pulmonary resection.

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax is a postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer. Diet-control approaches have been the mainstay for managing this condition. However, a surgical intervention is needed for the patients if conservative treatment is ineffective. Because of the lack of accurate indicators to assess the prognosis of the postoperative complication at an early stage, the criteria of surgical treatment were not consistent. METHODS: We reviewed 2942 patients who underwent pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for primary lung cancer at our hospital between March 2021 and December 2022. The prognostic implications of clinical indicators were assessed in patients with postoperative chylothorax who were managed with a low-fat diet. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the predictive value of these indicators for patient prognosis. RESULTS: Postoperative chylothorax occurred in 108 patients and 79 patients were treated with a low-fat diet management while 29 patients were managed with TPN. In contrast to drainage volume, the pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet exhibited enhanced predictive efficacy in predicting patient prognosis. When the pleural fluid triglyceride level of 1.33 mmol/L was used as the diagnostic threshold for prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity reached 100% and 80.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet can serve as a valuable prognostic indicator in patients undergoing lung surgery and experiencing chylothorax. This predictive approach will help thoracic surgeons to identify patients with poor prognosis in a timely manner and make decision to perform necessary surgical interventions.

Severe pneumonia with pleural effusion caused by co-infection of Paecilomyces variotii and Penicillium oxalicum in a diabetic patient.

BACKGROUND PAECILOMYCES: and Penicillium are considered as rare opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised hosts, and pneumonia caused by Paecilomyces and Penicillium is rare. In this study, we present first case of severe pneumonia with pleural effusion caused by co-infection of Paecilomyces variotii (P. variotii) and Penicillium oxalicum (P. oxalicum) in a 66-year-old female with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman patient presented to hospital for nausea, poor appetite, and vomiting for one day. On the second day of admission, blood culture and renal puncture fluid culture grew multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (imipenem/cilastatin sensitive), and she received combination therapy with imipenem/cilastatin (1 g, every 8 h) and vancomycin (0.5 g, every 12 h). On the fourth day, she developed symptoms of respiratory failure. Pulmonary computed tomography (CT) showed an increase in pneumonia compared to before, with minor pleural effusion on both sides. Two fungi were isolated repeatedly from BALF culture, which were confirmed as P. variotii and P. oxalicum by Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Her pleural effusion was completely absorbed, pneumonia symptoms have significantly improved and discharged with receiving liposomal amphotericin B treatment for four weeks. CONCLUSIONS: It is worth noting that clinicians and laboratory personnel should not simply consider Paecilomyces and Penicillium species as contaminants, especially in immunocompromised patients. Early fungal identification and antifungal drug sensitivity are crucial for clinical drug selection and patient prognosis.

Differences in microenvironment of lung cancer and pleural effusions by single-cell RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Direct comparison of tumor microenvironment of matched lung cancer biopsies and pleural effusions (PE) from the same patients is critical in understanding tumor biology but has not been performed. This is the first study to compare the lung cancer and PE microenvironment by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). METHODS: Matched lung cancer biopsies and PE were obtained prospectively from ten patients. We isolated CD45+ cells and performed scRNA-seq to compare the biopsies and PE. RESULTS: PE had a higher proportion of CD4+ T cells but lower proportion of CD8+ T cells (False detection rate, FDR = 0.0003) compared to biopsies. There was a higher proportion of naïve CD4+ T cells (FDR = 0.04) and naïve CD8+ T cells (FDR = 0.0008) in PE vs. biopsies. On the other hand, there was a higher proportion of Tregs (FDR = 0.04), effector CD8+ (FDR = 0.006), and exhausted CD8+ T cells (FDR = 0.01) in biopsies. The expression of inflammatory genes in T cells was increased in biopsies vs. PE, including TNF, IFN-É£, IL-1R1, IL-1R2, IL-2, IL-12RB2, IL-18R1, and IL-18RAP (FDR = 0.009, 0.013, 0.029, 0.043, 0.009, 0.013, 0.004, and 0.003, respectively). The gene expression of exhaustion markers in T cells was also increased in tumor biopsies including PDCD1, CTLA4, LAG 3, HAVCR2, TIGIT, and CD160 (FDR = 0.008, 0.003, 0.002, 0.011, 0.006, and 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher proportion of naïve T cells and lower proportion of exhausted T cells and Tregs in PE compared to lung cancer biopsies, which can be leveraged for prognostic and therapeutic applications.

Needle Biopsy of Pleura in the Aetiological Diagnosis of Pleural Effusion.

Exudative pleural effusion appears as manifestation of underlying specific disease process and pleural biopsy is usually enough to find out the underlying causative disease. The aim of the study was to find out the efficacy of needle biopsy of pleura in the aetiological diagnosis of pleural effusion. This cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one year from January 2008 to December 2008 in the Department of Medicine, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Bogura, Bangladesh enrolling 50 subjects with exudative pleural effusion. The cases with transudative pleural effusion were not included. Needle biopsy was done in all the cases. Histopathological reports of pleural biopsy specimen were correlated with other data and analyzed to detect the causes of effusion. Major incidence of malignant effusion occurred between 41 to 70 years of age. No malignant effusion was found before 30 years of age. Incidence of tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion was much more common in males than in females. Sensitivity and specificity of combined pleural biopsy and pleural fluid analysis in the diagnosis of pleural effusion was 97.06% and 100.% for tuberculosis and 81.82% and 100.0% for malignancy. The present study reveals that pleural biopsy was very effective method in the diagnosis of cause of pleural effusion.

Right perirenal urinoma and urinothorax in an infant after neonatal ablation of posterior urethral valve: A rare complication diagnosed by pleural aspiration and treated with perinephric drainage: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Urinothorax and urinoma are rare complications of obstructive uropathy. They might occur due to persistent high back pressure on the renal parenchyma. Urinothorax usually arises while the obstruction exists; in contrast to our case, the child presented after being operated on. He had falsely high creatinine before the operation, which was later explained by creatinine recirculation. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: We are reporting an uncommon case of late presentation of ruptured urinoma in a 2-month-old Kuwaiti male. It led to urinothorax/uroperitoneum that caused respiratory distress and was associated with creatinine recirculation, requiring retroperitoneal perinephric catheter insertion. The child had recovered and was discharged home. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose urinothorax, especially in patients with a history of obstructive uropathy. Aspiration of the pleural effusion will guide you to reach the diagnosis. Creatinine recirculation is rarely described in the literature. Having a patient with urinothorax/uroperitoneum should raise the suspicion of falsely elevated creatinine levels.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia presenting as bilateral bloody pleural effusion: A case report.

RATIONALE: Pleural effusion, especially bilateral bloody pleural effusion, is a rare complication of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). Pleural effusion in patients with WM has many causes, such as infection, tumor invasion of the pleura, and rupture of the thoracic duct or its branches. Patients with WM presenting to the respiratory department with chest tightness and shortness of breath need more differential diagnosis by respiratory physicians, which is helpful for effective treatment. Herein, we present a case of MV diagnosis in a patient with bilateral bloody pleural effusion. PATIENT CONCERN: Our patient is a 59-year-old man with WM presenting as having bilateral bloody pleural effusion. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with pleural effusion drainage. After confirming the diagnosis, the patient was treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone. OUTCOMES: Following these treatments, the patient's symptoms improved, and ultrasound showed a decrease in pleural effusion. LESSONS: Despite its favorable prognosis, the cause of pleural effusion in a patient with WM can be challenging to diagnose. The cause of pleural effusion should be considered a differential diagnosis when diagnosing patients diagnosed with WM.

Aetiology of pleural effusions in children living in a high TB endemic setting.

Confirming the aetiology of pleural effusion in children may be difficult in TB-endemic settings. We investigated the role of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and routine biochemical tests in discriminating pleural effusion caused by bacteria from other aetiologies.This is a cross-sectional post-hoc analysis among children with pleural effusion in a tertiary hospital in South Africa, incorporating new data from PCR testing of stored pleural fluid. Aetiological classification was defined by microbiological confirmation.Ninety-one children were enrolled; the median age 31 months (IQR 12-102). The aetiology of pleural effusion was 40% (36/91) bacteria, 11% (10/91) TB, 3% (3/91) viruses, 11% (10/91) polymicrobial and 35% (32/91) had no pathogen identified. The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (27/91, 30%) with similar yields on culture and PCR, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (12/91, 13%), detected more commonly by PCR. PCR reduced the number of children with unconfirmed aetiologies from 48 to 32. Characteristics of children with no pathogen most resembled those with TB. Pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase ≥1,716 U/L best discriminated bacterial pleural effusion from other aetiologies (sensitivity of 86%; specificity 95%).PCR improved detection of pathogens and reduced number of children with unconfirmed aetiologies in presumed exudative pleural effusion..

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Workup of Pleural Effusion or Pleural Disease.

Pleural effusions are categorized as transudative or exudative, with transudative effusions usually reflecting the sequala of a systemic etiology and exudative effusions usually resulting from a process localized to the pleura. Common causes of transudative pleural effusions include congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and renal failure, whereas exudative effusions are typically due to infection, malignancy, or autoimmune disorders. This document summarizes appropriateness guidelines for imaging in four common clinical scenarios in patients with known or suspected pleural effusion or pleural disease. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Pleurisy due to brucellosis.

Any system or organ involvement can be seen in brucellosis, which is still a significant public health problem in developing countries. The rate of respiratory system involvement is lower than that of other systems and which is also difficult to document. Brucellosis-associated pleurisy is a rare complication even in endemic regions. In this case report, a 78-year-old male patient who was assessed for pleural effusion etiology is presented. Brucella spp. were isolated on the 14th day of the pleural fluid incubation in the blood culture set and the patienthas been treated successfully for brucellosis. Based on our experience we think that it is important to use blood culture media for sterile body fluids, particularly for microorganisms that are difficult to isolate such as Brucella spp.

Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema (REPE) Following Thoracentesis: Is Large-Volume Thoracentesis Associated with Increased Incidence of REPE?

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy associated with drainage volumes greater than 1,500 mL in a single, unilateral thoracentesis without pleural manometry measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, single-institution study included 872 patients (18 years and older) who underwent ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Patient and procedures data were collected including demographics, number of and laterality of thoracenteses, volume and consistency of fluid removed, and whether clinical or radiologic evidence of re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) developed within 24 h of thoracentesis. Fisher's exact test was used to test the significance of the relationship between volume of fluid removed and evidence of REPE. RESULTS: A total of 1376 thoracenteses were performed among the patients included in the study. The mean volume of fluid removed among all procedures was 901.1 mL (SD = 641.7 mL), with 194 (14.1%) procedures involving the removal of ≥ 1,500 mL of fluid. In total, six (0.7%) patients developed signs of REPE following thoracentesis, five of which were a first-time thoracentesis. No statistically significant difference in incidence of REPE was observed between those with ≥ 1,500 mL of fluid removed compared to those with < 1,500 mL of fluid removed (p-value = 0.599). CONCLUSIONS: Large-volume thoracentesis may safely improve patients' symptoms while preventing the need for repeat procedures.