STUDY OF CLINICAL AND ETIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH PLEURAL EFFUSIONS TO A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Dr.Raaghav Gupta; Dr. V.K Jain; Dr. Mahesh Mishra

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2018

STUDY OF CLINICAL AND ETIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH PLEURAL EFFUSIONS TO A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Dr. Raaghav Gupta, Dr. V. K Jain, Dr. Mahesh Mishra

Abstract :

Introduction:– Pleural effusion is an abnormal collection of fluid in pleural space resulting from excess fluid production or decreased absorption or both. Excess fluid results from disruption of equiliium that exists across pleural memanes. It constitutes one of the major causes of morbidity in India as well in other parts of world. Because of the various etiologies that can cause pleural effusion, it often present a diagnostic problem, even after extensive investigations. The study was done to identify common etiologies of Pleural effusion in a tertiary hospital, their clinical profile and comparison with western profile of pleural effusion.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and etiological profile of patients presenting with pleural effusion .

Material And Methods: A Observational study (Cross Sectional) was carried out on 100 patients with pleural effusion from April 2016 to April 2017 at Department of Respiratory medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur .

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. All cases of Pleural effusion.

2. Age 18 years or more

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Age < 18 years.

2. Hemodynamically unstable patients.

3. Patients with bleeding disorders or diathesis

Results:– In our study, Out of 100 patients 75 were males and 25 females(Mean age :40.55), 56% of cases were in 21–40 year of age.58% patients had right sided effusion .85% patients had exudative effusion. Tubercular effusion (66.7%)remains the commonest etiology of all exudative effusions, where as Congestive cardiac failure(70%) remains commonest cause among transudative effusions.

Tubercular effusion affects most commonly young (Mean age 35 years) & is associated with cough and fever as most common presenting symptom. Malignant effusions were seen in older age group with cough and dyspnea as predominant symptoms. Pleural Fluid appearance in maximum patients (55%) was straw coloured.Pleural fluid ADA >70 IU/L was associated with maximum patients with diagnosis of tuberculosis whereas others with ADA levels 40 to 70 IU/L with clinicoradiogical correlation were suggestive of tubercular effusion.