What Is Pleural Effusion?
9. Draining
In some cases of pleural effusion, the excess fluids will likely need to be drained from the pleural cavity. This will typically involve the use of a small tube or needle that will be inserted into the chest. More than one session might be necessary, but a local anesthetic is used to help prevent the procedure from being too painful.
Another potential treatment for pleural effusion is pleurodesis. This is a condition that effectively binds the two pleura membranes together, and this means fluid is no longer able to accumulate in the cavity. However, this means the two membranes can no longer slide against each other, and this will cause breathing difficulties.
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