Pleural Fluid Tapping

A pleural effusion is an unusual amount of fluid around the lung. Many medical conditions can lead to it, so even though your pleural effusion may have to be drained, your doctor likely will target the treatment at whatever caused it.
The pleura is a thin membrane that lines the surface of your lungs and the inside of your chest wall. When you have a pleural effusion, fluid builds up in the space between the layers of your pleura.
Normally, only teaspoons of watery fluid are in the pleural space, which allows your lungs to move smoothly in your chest cavity when you breathe.

Causes

A wide range of things can cause a pleural effusion. Some of the more common ones are:

• Leaking from other organs. This usually happens if you have congestive heart failure, when your heart doesn't pump blood to your body properly. But it can also come from liver or kidney disease, when fluid builds up in your body and leaks into the pleural space.
• Cancer. Usually lung cancer is the problem, but other cancers that have spread to the lung or pleura can cause it, too.
• Infections. Some illnesses that lead to pleural effusion are pneumonia or tuberculosis.
• Autoimmune conditions. Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis are some diseases that can cause it.
• Pulmonary embolism. This is a blockage in an artery in one of your lungs, and it can lead to pleural effusion.

Symptoms

You might not have any. You're more likely to have symptoms when a pleural effusion is moderate or large-sized, or if there is also inflammation.
If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain, especially when breathing in deeply (This is called pleurisy or pleuritic pain.)
• Fever
• Cough