SIGNIFICANCE OF SMALL PLEURAL EFFUSIONS IN CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASE, AND SOME OTHER OBSERVATIONS ON PLEURAL FLUID IN GENERAL
Authors: L CARDON
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1960)

Article1 October 1960SIGNIFICANCE OF SMALL PLEURAL EFFUSIONS IN CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASE, AND SOME OTHER OBSERVATIONS ON PLEURAL FLUID IN GENERALLEONARD CARDON, M.D., F.A.C.P.LEONARD CARDON, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-53-4-765 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThat massive pleural effusion or hydrothorax may precipitate severe dyspnea and air hunger and be an immediate threat to life, requiring emergency thoracentesis, is universally recognized. On the other hand, even a massive pleural effusion of the common idiopathic type, which is associated with relatively little disease of the underlying lung, is frequently well tolerated, particularly if it be unilateral, and in a young adult with a normal heart and a normal contralateral lung. Under these circumstances, as much as 2,000 to 3,000 ml. of fluid may produce relatively little discomfort—perhaps only a little dyspnea or breathlessness on mild exertion....Bibliography1. Altschule MT: Physiology in disease of the heart and lungs, 2nd Ed., 1950, Oxford University Press, London and New York, p. 336. Google Scholar2. Cabot RC: Physical diagnosis, 6th Ed., Chapter XIX, 1915, William Wood & Co., New York. Google Scholar3. White PD: Heart disease, 3rd Ed., 1944, The Macmillan Company, New York, pp. 787-788. Google Scholar4. Friedberg CK: Diseases of the heart, 2nd Ed., 1951, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, p. 205. Google Scholar5. Chapman JS, in Harrison, T. R.: Principles of internal medicine, 3d Ed., 1958, The Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, p. 1380. Google Scholar6. Barnwell JB, in Cecil, R. L., and Loeb, R. F.: Textbook of medicine, 9th Ed., 1955, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, p. 1058. Google Scholar7. Wilson JW: Diagnosis of infrapulmonary effusion, J. A. M. A. 158: 1423-1427 (Aug. 20) 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Chicago, Illinois*Received for publication June 13, 1960.From the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Cook County Hospital.†Since in this paper we are concerned only with the mechanical effects of pleural fluid, the terms "hydrothorax" and "pleural effusion" will be used interchangeably.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Leonard Cardon, M.D., 185 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 1614, Chicago 1, Illinois. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byChanges in pulmonary function after bullectomy 1 October 1960Volume 53, Issue 4Page: 765-795KeywordsDyspneaEmphysemaHospital medicineHydrothoraxLungsPleural effusionPneumoniaRespirationThoraxYoung adults ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 October 1960 PDF downloadLoading ...