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==Overview==
__NOTOC__
Once accumulated fluid is more than 500 ml, there are usually detectable clinical signs in the patient, such as decreased movement of the chest on the affected side, dullness to [[percussion]] over the fluid, diminished [[breath sounds]] on the affected side, decreased vocal [[fremitus]] and resonance, pleural [[friction rub]], and [[egophony]].
When only 250 to 300ml of pleural fluid is present, physical examination may be unremarkable.
 
At a pleural fluid volume of approximately 500 ml, the typical physical findings are:<ref name="isbn0-7817-6957-4">{{cite book | author = Light, Richard J. | authorlink = | editor = | others = | title = Pleural diseases | edition = | language = | publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | location = Hagerstwon, MD | year = 2007 | origyear = | pages = | quote = | isbn = 0-7817-6957-4 | oclc = | doi = |url = | accessdate = }}</ref>
* Dullness to [[percussion]]
* Decreased [[fremitus]]
* Normal vesicular [[breath sounds]] of decreased intensity compared with the contralateral side
 
At a pleural fluid volume exceeding 1000ml, there usually is:<ref name="isbn0-7817-6957-4">{{cite book | author = Light, Richard J. |authorlink = | editor = | others = | title = Pleural diseases | edition = | language = | publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location = Hagerstwon, MD | year = 2007 | origyear = | pages = | quote = | isbn = 0-7817-6957-4 | oclc = | doi = | url = | accessdate =}}</ref>
* Absence of inspiratory retraction and mild bulging of the intercostal spaces
* Decreased expansion of the ipsilateral chest wall
* Dullness to [[percussion]] up to the level of the scapula and axilla
* Decreased or absent [[fremitus]] posteriorly and laterally
* Bronchovesicular [[breath sounds]], which may be of decreased intensity at the upper level of the effusion
* [[Egophony]] at the upper level of the effusion
 
When the effusion fills the entire hemithorax, physical examination will show:<ref name="isbn0-7817-6957-4">{{cite book | author = Light, Richard J. | authorlink = | editor = | others = | title = Pleural diseases | edition = | language = | publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | location = Hagerstwon, MD | year = 2007 | origyear = | pages = | quote = | isbn = 0-7817-6957-4 | oclc = | doi = | url = |accessdate = }}</ref>
* Bulging of the intracostal spaces
* Minimal to no expansion of the ipsilateral chest wall
* A dull or flat [[percussion]] noted over the entire hemithorax
* Absent [[breath sounds]] over the majority of the chest with possible bronchovesicular bronchial [[breath sounds]] at the apex
* [[Egophony]] at the upper level of the pleural effusion
* Apalpable liver or spleen due to significant diaphragmatic depression


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:49, 1 May 2013

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

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When only 250 to 300ml of pleural fluid is present, physical examination may be unremarkable.

At a pleural fluid volume of approximately 500 ml, the typical physical findings are:[1]

At a pleural fluid volume exceeding 1000ml, there usually is:[1]

  • Absence of inspiratory retraction and mild bulging of the intercostal spaces
  • Decreased expansion of the ipsilateral chest wall
  • Dullness to percussion up to the level of the scapula and axilla
  • Decreased or absent fremitus posteriorly and laterally
  • Bronchovesicular breath sounds, which may be of decreased intensity at the upper level of the effusion
  • Egophony at the upper level of the effusion

When the effusion fills the entire hemithorax, physical examination will show:[1]

  • Bulging of the intracostal spaces
  • Minimal to no expansion of the ipsilateral chest wall
  • A dull or flat percussion noted over the entire hemithorax
  • Absent breath sounds over the majority of the chest with possible bronchovesicular bronchial breath sounds at the apex
  • Egophony at the upper level of the pleural effusion
  • Apalpable liver or spleen due to significant diaphragmatic depression

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Light, Richard J. (2007). Pleural diseases. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-6957-4.

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