effusion

Pleural Effusion: Assessment

Pleural effusion: Collection of fluid in the intrapleural space, with compression of lung tissues. Fluid collects by gravity in dependent areas of the chest. The diagram above, shows pleural fluid compressing lung tissue and alveoli.

Assessment findings include:
Inspection	increased respiratory rate dyspnea
Palpation	tactile fremitus decreased or absent. chest expansion decreased on the affected side. tracheal shift away from affected side
Percussion	dull to flat
Auscultation	breath sounds and voice sounds decreased or absent. bronchial breath sounds and bronchophony, egophony, and whispered pectoriloquy may be heard over the area of the lung that is compressed near the effusion.