A simple pleural effusion or not?

Abstract

A 60-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of progressive dyspnea and bilateral leg edema. He had undergone a prosthetic mitral valve replacement 9 years earlier. The patient was in respiratory distress (respiratory rate 32/min, oxygen saturation 86% on air, heart rate 124/min, blood pressure 109/56 mmHg). Examination revealed bilateral lung crackles and reduced air entry with dullness to percussion and elevated jugular venous pressure. The electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. A chest X-ray (CXR) (Figure 1) and bedside lung ultrasonography were performed (Figure 2A). A diagnosis of a large pleural effusion was made and urgent thoracocentesis was considered in view of the patient’s respiratory distress. A repeat ultrasonographic scan with adjusted angulation to identify the most suitable entry point for the chest drain (Figure 2B) yielded new results that led to the cancellation of the thoracocentesis.

Keywords

• Echocardiography
• clinical competence
• heart valve prosthesis