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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Eric D Ahlstrom, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonology
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Keki Balsara, MBA, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Julian K Chung, MD
Pulmonology
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Susan L. Davis, ACNP-BC, BSN, MSN
Cardiac Surgery
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Helen Tressa D'Couto, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonology
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Jennifer Hilfiker, PA, PA-C
Pulmonology
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Seyed Ebrahim Kassaian, MD
Cardio-Oncology & Cardiology
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Kathleen J. Lavery, ACNP-BC, MSN
Cardiac Surgery
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Deepa Grace Lazarous, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonology
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Stacey Elizabeth Miller, MSN
Cardiac Surgery
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Duane Richard Monteith, MD
Interventional Pulmonology & Thoracic Surgery
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Uday Bipinchandra Nanavaty, MD
Pulmonology
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Shalin Patel, MD
Pulmonology
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Jesse E. Pratt, BSN, MPAS, PA
Pulmonology
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Jessica Shuan Wang Memoli, MD
Interventional Pulmonology & Pulmonology
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Elise Janine Young, PA
Pulmonology
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Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.