Use of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of pleural effusion

R.-J. Shao , M.-J. Du, J.-T. Xie

Department of Radiation Oncology Center, Taizhou Cancer Hospital, Taizhou Branch of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China. shaorongjunwl@sina.com

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• Respiratory Medicine
• Ultrasound

Pleural effusion affects gas exchange, hemodynamic stability, and respiratory movement, thereby increasing the failure rate of intensive care unit discharge and mortality. Therefore, it is especially important to diagnose pleural effusion quickly to make the appropriate treatment decisions. The present review discusses the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and puncture/drainage of pleural effusions and highlights the importance of lung ultrasound techniques in this patient population.

We searched on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for articles from establishment to October 2022 using the following keywords: “lung ultrasound”, “pulmonary ultrasound”, “pleural effusion”, “ultrasound-guided” and “thoracentesis”.

Lung ultrasound not only helps clinicians visualize pleural effusion but also to identify its different types and assess pleural effusion volume. It is also very important for thoracentesis, not only to increase safety and reduce life-threatening complications, but also to monitor the amount of fluid after drainage of pleural effusion.

Lung ultrasound is a simple, noninvasive bedside technique with good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis and treatment of pleural effusions.

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