Empyema (patient information): Difference between revisions

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==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
The health care provider may note decreased breath sounds or an abnormal sound (friction rub) when listening to the chest with a stethoscope ([[auscultation]]).
Tests may include the following:
* [[Chest x-ray]]
* [[CT scan]] of chest
* [[Pleural fluid Gram stain]] and culture
* [[Thoracentesis]]


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==

Revision as of 19:09, 25 September 2012

Empyema

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for empyema?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Empyema On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of empyema

Videos on empyema

FDA on empyema

CDC on empyema

Empyema in the news

Blogs on empyema

Directions to Hospitals Treating Empyema

Risk calculators and risk factors for empyema

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Empyema is a collection of pus in the space between the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall (pleural space).

What are the symptoms of empyema?

What causes empyema?

Empyema is usually caused by an infection that spreads from the lung. It leads to a buildup of pus in the pleural space.

There can be a pint or more of infected fluid. This fluid puts pressure on the lungs.

Risk factors include:

In rare cases, empyema can occur after a needle is inserted through the chest wall to draw off fluid in the pleural space for medical diagnosis or treatment (thoracentesis).

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

The health care provider may note decreased breath sounds or an abnormal sound (friction rub) when listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation).

Tests may include the following:

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for empyema?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Empyema

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Sources

Template:WH Template:WS