STUDY ON PLEURAL EFFUSION FOR DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH

Abstract

Background: Pleural effusion occur because of abnormal collection of fluid in pleural cavity. There are various causes of pleural effusion so we have diagnose these cause and treat underlying cause.

Objective: Objective of the present study was to study the various symptoms, causes and chemical characteristic of pleural effusion.

Material and Method: This Cross Sectional study carried out at Respiratory Medicine Department, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara. In this study total 100 patients were enrolled in.

Results: In Our study most common affected age group was 31-40(38%), followed by 41-50 (17%). Most common symptom was Chest pain in 78% of patients, Breathlessness in 66% patients, Fever in 48 % patients and cough in 42% of patients and hemoptysis in10% of patients. Tuberculosis was most common cause of pleural effusion in 68% of patients. Malignant effusion present in12% of patients, Parapneumoniac effusion present in 8 % of patients. Pleural fluid protein>3gm/dl found in 95.6% of tuberculosis patients, 83.4% of malignant effusion patients, 87.5% of parapneumonic effusion patients. In all 4 cases of CCF and Hypoproteinemia, pleural fluid protein was<3gm/dl. ADA>40 in 95.6% of tuberculosis patients and 25% of malignant effusion patients.

Conclusion: In our study, Pleural effusion was more common in male and middle aged person. Most common symptom was chest pain and most common cause of pleural effusion was tuberculosis in our study.