Management and Treatment of Pleural Effusion

Rigomo Team

Sat, 04 Oct 2025

Transudative effusions are managed by treating the underlying medical disorder. However, despite whether it’s a transudative or exudative, large, refractory pleural effusions inflicting severe symptoms need to be drained to produce symptomatic relief.

Treatment for PLEURAL effusion focuses on removing the additional fluid from the space and preventing it from rebuilding again.

The goal is to alleviate symptoms and treat any underlying medical conditions that are causing the fluid build-up.

One of the foremost common procedures to get rid of additional fluid is termed thoracentesis. This involves exploration by ultrasound to find the fluid and a hollow needle is inserted to empty the fluid from the space. Thoracentesis will improve respiratory, scale back coughing and improve oxygen levels.

It is very common for fluid to build up again after it is removed, thus patients typically would need more than one procedure. If that is the case, your doctor could counsel a patient into another procedure known as pleurodesis where mild inflammation is deliberately created between the lung and chest cavity after removing the excess fluid by injecting a drug which would cause the sticking of layers of the pleura.

Medications

Medications could also be accustomed treat serosa effusion betting on its cause and symptoms. forms of medications used could include:

•  Antibiotics if there's an infection
• Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pain and scale back inflammation or swelling
•  Diuretics assist the body to eliminate additional fluid through urine.
•  Bronchodilators widen the airways within the lungs and permit air to flow easily
•  Surgery

Occasionally, surgery could also be needed to treat pleural effusion, particularly if it continues to come back. Pleurodesis may be a procedure that seals the layers of the pleura

Pleurectomy may be a procedure that removes a part of the pleural membrane to forestall continuing fluid buildup.