OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship among angiogenic cytokines, fibrinolytic activity and effusion size in parapneumonic effusion (PPE) and their clinical importance. METHODS From January 2008 through December 2010, 26 uncomplicated (UPPE) and 38 complicated (CPPE) PPE were studied. Based on chest ultrasonography, there were non-loculated in 30, uni-loculated in 12, and multi-loculated ...

Introduction: Different etiologies of pleural effusion are diagnosed based on serum and plural fluid characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the serum and pleural fluid protein to lactate dehyrogenase (Pr/LDH) ratio in exudative pleural effusions. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 60 patients with exudative pleural effusion including: 20 cases with para...

Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) is a pioneer oral bacteria that is recognized as an agent of bacterial endocarditis. However, an extensive review of the literature revealed no reported case of S. gordonii causing empyema. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who presented with respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed several dental caries with decreased breath sounds in the b...

Iatrogenic pulmonary barotrauma and cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) may complicate a variety of medical procedures, such as certain types of surgery, drug administration through thoracic drainage, pneumoperitoneum, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment following the guidelines for CAGE in diving is the treatment of choice. Pleural streptokinase instillation is a commo...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in developing countries including Nepal. One of the common presentations of TB is pleural effusion. The diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion can be difficult because of the low rate of detecting tubercule bacilli by direct stain and culture of pleural fluid for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Pleural biopsy can be useful but is invasive and requir...

We describe a man who developed pleural effusion with Pasteurella multocida, and review the reported literature concerning this entity. We identified 21 such cases, including our own. Most patients with P. multocida pleural effusions are immunocompromised and/or have significant co-morbidities. These effusions are typically complicated parapneumonic effusions that are grossly purulent (87%) wit...

ed bullet points Clinical picture N All children with parapneumonic effusion or empyema should be admitted to hospital. [D] N If a child remains pyrexial or unwell 48 hours after admission for pneumonia, parapneumonic effusion/empyema must be excluded. [D] Diagnostic imaging N Posteroanterior or anteroposterior radiographs should be taken; there is no role for a routine lateral radiograph. [D] ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES Biochemical and inflammatory markers in pleural inflammation were evaluated in pediatric cases of parapneumonic effusions, and interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations were tested for possible differentiation of the complicated nature of effusions. PATIENTS Twenty-eight patients (12 female) who were admitted to Hacettepe University Childrens' Ho...

Patients with parapneumonic effusions (PPE) measuring <1 cm by lateral decubitus radiograph (LDR) or <5 cm by lateral erect radiograph (LER) do not require thoracentesis. No such data exist for chest computed tomography (CCT). The objective of this study was to identify a PPE measurement by CCT that indicates the need for thoracentesis. A secondary data analysis of two pneumonia databases was c...

RATIONALE Optimal management of complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPPE) remains controversial. OBJECTIVES to assess safety and efficacy of iterative therapeutic thoracentesis (ITTC), the first-line treatment of CPPE in Rennes University Hospital. METHODS Patients with CPPE were identified through our computerized database. We retrospectively studied all cases of CPPE initially managed wi...