What is pleural effusion?
The pleural space around the lungs allows them to expand and is lined with a thin layer of tissue called the pleura. Pleural effusion is the build-up of extra fluid in the space that can put pressure on your lungs and make it difficult to breathe or cause a lung to collapse. It’s sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs.”
Symptoms
If you have pleural effusion, you may experience:
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Coughing
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Shortness of breath
You may feel relief from some symptoms when sitting upright or standing.
What causes pleural effusion?
The cause of pleural effusion will affect the type of fluid build-up around the lungs, which is either a watery or protein-rich fluid. Some common causes of pleural effusion include:
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Influenza
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Open heart surgery or chest trauma
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Pneumonia
Tests
Diagnosing pleural effusion is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Our specialists may recommend one or more diagnostic and imaging procedures to evaluate your condition.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the condition causing your pleural effusion and the amount of fluid in the pleural space.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Chee Man Chan, MD
Pulmonology
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Fady H Iskander, MD
Structural Heart Disease Cardiology, Valvular Disease Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology & Cardiology
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Yuji Kawano, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Jay Grant Kirkham, DO
Interventional Pulmonology
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Michael Alan Matyas, MD
Cardiac Imaging, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine & Diagnostic Radiology
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Anita Naik, DO
Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine & Pulmonology
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Uday Bipinchandra Nanavaty, MD
Pulmonology
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Shalin Patel, MD
Pulmonology
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Jasvinder Singh, MD
Pulmonology
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Jigna Solanki, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonology
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Tsion Tewolde, PA-C
Pulmonology
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Ajeet G. Vinayak, MD
Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Critical Care, Pulmonology & Neurocritical Care
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Cheryl L. Walk, CRNP
Pulmonology
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Stuart Richard Willes, MD
Pulmonology
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Irene F Ibarra, MD
Pulmonology
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Octavius Douglas Polk, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonology
Related services
Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
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