ILOs

• Describe the common presentation and causes of pleural effusion
• Know how to classify effusions as either a transudate or exudate
• Outline a basic approach to the investigation and diagnoses of a pleural effusion

• How does pleural effusion present?
• Which factors do we need to be mindful of when taking a history of pleural effusion?
• What do we examine in a patient we suspect has pleural effusion?
• Outline how we differentiate between transudate and exudate…
• Compare the different pathologies resulting in transudate and exudate…
• Which investigations should we carry out for pleural effusion?
• Simple chest X-Rays showing us pleural effusion!
• Now… CT scans…
• Here’s what an ultrasound can show us…
• Explain what a thoracoscopy is…
• Here’s normal pleura on thoracoscopy…
• Now, abnormal…
• Let’s look at septations on thoracoscopy…
• How do we treat pleural effusion then?
• What can cause a malignant pleural effusion… how do we diagnose and manage it?