Ultrasound for critical care physicians: characteristic findings in a complicated effusion

Abstract

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. A 60-year-old man with right sided invasive Stage IIB squamous lung carcinoma, presented with a one week history of progressively worsening shortness of breath, fever, and chills. On admission, the patient was hemodynamically stable on 5L nasal cannula with an oxygen saturation at 90%. Physical exam was significant for a cachectic male in moderate respiratory distress using accessory muscles but able to speak in full sentences. His pulmonary exam was significant for severely reduced breath sound on the right along with dullness to percussion. His initial laboratory finding showed a mildly elevated WBC count 15.3 K/mm3, which was neutrophil predominant and initial chest x-ray with complete opacification of the right hemithorax. An ultrasound of the right chest was performed (Figure 1). Based on the ultrasound image shown what is the likely cause of the patient’s opacified right hemithorax? 1. Consolidation 2. Exudative pleural effusion 3. Pneumothorax 4. Transudative pleural effusion …

Keywords

• pleural effusion
• septated
• complicated
• complicated pleural effusion
• exudative
• exudative pleural effusion
• ultrasound
• CT scan
• treatment
• point of contract