Pulmonary - Week 9 - Notes

Question 1

What causes pleurisy

Answer 1

Pleurisy is the inflammation of the pleura, which are the thin membranes lining the lungs and chest cavity. This inflammation causes sharp chest pain that worsens with deep breaths, coughing, or other movements because the inflamed, rough membranes rub against each other. Common causes include infections like pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms, and autoimmune diseases

Infections # autoimmune diseases # injury # or cancer

Question 2

What are symptoms of pleurisy

Answer 2

Sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing

Question 3

How is pleurisy diagnosed

Answer 3

Physical exam # chest X-ray # ultrasound # and blood tests

Question 4

How is pleurisy treated

Answer 4

Pain relief # treat the cause like infection or inflammation

Question 5

What are complications of pleurisy

Answer 5

Pleural effusion # lung collapse # or infection

Question 6

What causes pleural effusion

Answer 6

Heart failure # infections # cancer # or kidney and liver problems

Pleural effusion is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and a cough, as the fluid can put pressure on the lungs. The most common causes include heart failure, pneumonia, and cancer.
Causes of pleural effusion
Heart failure: Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of pleural effusion.
Infections: Pneumonia and other infections can cause fluid to build up.
Cancer: Malignancy, such as lung cancer, can cause a type of pleural effusion.
Other conditions: It can also be caused by inflammatory diseases (like lupus), kidney or liver disease, and trauma.
Symptoms
shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis: A doctor will use imaging tests like a chest X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. They may also remove a sample of the fluid with a needle to test it for the underlying cause.
Treatment: The treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include draining the excess fluid or treating the condition that is causing it.
What to do
If you experience symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain, see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
The condition can be serious, and a doctor can determine the best course of action based on your specific situation.

Question 7

What are symptoms of pleural effusion

Answer 7

hortness of breath # chest pain # and cough

Question 8

How is pleural effusion diagnosed

Answer 8

Chest X-ray # ultrasound # CT scan # and fluid analysis

Question 9

What is the difference between transudate and exudate

Answer 9

Transudate is due to pressure changes; exudate is due to inflammation or infection

Question 10

What are Light’s criteria for pleural effusion

Answer 10

Fluid is exudate if protein or LDH levels are high compared to blood

Question 11

How is pleural effusion treated

Answer 11

Drain the fluid and treat the cause

Question 12

What are complications of pleural effusion

Answer 12

Infection # lung collapse # or trapped lung

Question 13

What are other causes of pleural effusion

Answer 13

Infections # cancer # autoimmune diseases # and organ failure

Question 14

What is the outlook for pleural effusion

Answer 14

Depends on the cause and how well it is treated

Question 15

What causes pneumothorax

Answer 15

Air leaks into pleural space from injury # lung disease # or spontaneously

Question 16

What happens in pneumothorax

Answer 16

Air in pleural space causes lung to collapse

Question 17

What are symptoms of pneumothorax

Answer 17

Sudden chest pain and shortness of breath

Question 18

How is pneumothorax treated

Answer 18

Observation # needle aspiration # chest tube # or surgery

Question 19

What are complications of pneumothorax

Answer 19

Lung collapse # infection # or recurrence

Question 20

What is the outlook for pneumothorax

Answer 20

Good if treated early; worse if recurrent or severe

Question 21

What causes benign mesothelioma

Answer 21

Exposure to asbestos or unknown causes

Question 22

What are signs of benign mesothelioma

Answer 22

Chest pain # fluid buildup # and slow growth

Question 23

How is benign mesothelioma treated

Answer 23

Surgery or observation depending on symptoms

Question 24

What causes malignant mesothelioma

Answer 24

Asbestos exposure

Question 25

What are signs of malignant mesothelioma

Answer 25

Chest pain # weight loss # fluid buildup # and fast growth

Question 26

How is malignant mesothelioma treated

Answer 26

Chemotherapy # surgery # and sometimes radiation

Question 27

What causes solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

Answer 27

Unknown cause; usually slow-growing

Question 28

How is solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura diagnosed

Answer 28

Imaging and biopsy

Question 29

How is solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura treated

Answer 29

Surgery

Question 30

What else can look like solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

Answer 30

Other pleural tumors or infections