A study on the assessment of the degree of pleural effusion following surgery with ultrasonography in patients having cardiac surgery

Abstract

Author(s): Abhinav Mishra, Parag Amin, Sulabh Mahajan, Geetika M. Patel, Abhijeet Shelke, Nayana Borah

Aim: The aim of this research was to create a useful, simpler formula to assist in the treatment of Pleural Effusion (PE), a common postoperative complication. Serial chest ultrasonography examinations at the bedside can be performed with no radiation risk and are more sensitive and reliable than Chest X-Rays (CXRs) in the identification of PE.

Objective: In our prospective observational analysis, 170 patients who underwent heart surgery and had basal pleural opacity on a CXR were included. Postoperative Day (POD) 5.7 ± 3.1 chest ultrasonography revealed effusion, which was verified. Inclusion criteria for subsequent thoracentesis were not protocol-driven but instead simply based on clinical considerations. Dyspnea, Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO2 ) values of ≤ 90%, and the maximum distance between the diaphragm's midpoint and the visceral pleura (DG 25 mm) were important inclusion criteria.

Results: The PE volume was around 450 ml, as determined by the abbreviated formula: V (ml) = [16×D (mm)], 140 individuals (82%) were reduced using a 14-G needle. Without any difficulties, success rate for getting fluid was 100%. The calculated and drained pleural effusions are quite accurate.

Conclusion: Thoracentesis decisions for postoperative patients may be made easily and inexpensively with the help of simple measurements of pleural effusion. The formula elucidated in this study might be useful to oncologists to apply for cancer patients where fluid accumulation is very common, especially in lung cancers on its first priority as breast, ovarian mesothelioma, and others.

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