Authors: M Balik P Plasil P Waldauf J Pazout M Fric M Otahal J Pachl
Publish Date: 2006/01/24
Volume: 32, Issue: 2, Pages: 318-
Abstract
81 patients were included after initial suspicion of pleural fluid on chest supine Xray and prepuncture ultrasound confirming effusion Patients with thoracic deformities postlung surgery with diaphragm pathology haemothorax empyema and with incomplete aspiration of pleural fluid on postpuncture ultrasound were excludedPatients were supine with mild trunk elevation at 15° Probe was moved upwards in posterior axillary line and transverse section perpendicular to the body axis was obtained with pleural separation visible at lung base The maximal distance between parietal and visceral pleura Sep in endexpiration was recorded Thoracentesis was performed at previous probe position and volume of pleural fluid V recorded92 effusions were evaluated and drained 11 12 were excluded for incomplete aspiration Success rate of obtaining fluid under ultrasound guidance was 100 the incidence of pneumothorax or bleeding was zero Mean Sep was 35 ± 13 mm Mean V was 658 ± 320 ml Significant positive correlation between both Sep and V was found r = 072 r 2 = 052 p 0001 The amount of pleural fluid volume can be estimated with the simplified formula V ml = 20 × Sep mm Mean prediction error of V using Sep was 1584 ± 1606 ml
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