Etiologies of bilateral pleural effusions

Jonathan T. Puchalski*, A. Christine Argento, Terrence E. Murphy, Katy L B Araujo, Isabel B. Oliva, Ami N. Rubinowitz, Margaret A. Pisani

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the safety, etiology and outcomes of patients undergoing bilateral thoracentesis. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 100 consecutive patients who underwent bilateral thoracenteses in an academic medical center from July 2009 through November 2010. Pleural fluid characteristics and etiologies of the effusions were assessed. Mean differences in levels of fluid characteristics between right and left lungs were tested. Associations between fluid characteristics and occurrence of bilateral malignant effusions were evaluated. The rate of pneumothorax and other complications subsequent to bilateral thoracentesis was determined. Results: Exudates were more common than transudates, and most effusions had multiple etiologies, with 83% having two or more etiologies. Bilateral malignant effusions occurred in 19 patients, were the most common single etiology of exudative effusions, and were associated with higher levels of protein and LDH in the pleural fluid. Among 200 thoracenteses performed with a bilateral procedure, seven resulted in pneumothoraces, three of which required chest tube drainage and four were ex vacuo. Conclusions: More often than not, there are multiple etiologies that contribute to pleural fluid formation, and of the combinations of etiologies observed congestive heart failure was the most frequent contributor. Exudative effusions are more common than transudates when bilateral effusions are present. Malignancy is a common etiology of exudative effusions. This study suggests that the overall complication rate following bilateral thoracentesis is low and the rate of pneumothorax subsequent to bilateral thoracentesis is comparable to unilateral thoracentesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)284-291
Number of pages8
JournalRespiratory Medicine
Volume107
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013

Funding

The authors thank Kelsey Johnson, PA, for her diligent care of these patients and her participation in performing many of these procedures. No financial support for this study was received. K. Araujo and T.E. Murphy were supported by the National Institute on Aging through the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center ( P30AG21342 ) at Yale University.

Keywords

  • Effusion
  • Malignancy
  • Pneumothorax
  • Thoracic disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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