Practical management of pleural effusions - When and how should fluid accumulations be drained?

Once the cause of pleural effusion is identified, the next step is to initi ate appropriate disease-specific therapy. But what happens if symptoms pers ist despite best efforts to clear the lungs? What other disease processes c ould be contributing to breathing problems in these patients and how should the processes be managed? In this article, Drs Colice and Rubins discuss t hese questions and review the options for draining pleural effusions and pr eventing recurrences. For information on evaluating pleural effusions, see the article by the same authors in the May 1, 1999, issue of POSTGRADUATE M EDICINE, page 39.