Pleurel Effusions LIGULA MANGA No. 001
Why I chose to write about this…
Over the summer, I spent two weeks doing work experience at the John Ratcliffe hospital. For the first week, I was on the respiratory ward, and the second week, I was in the children’s hospital, experiencing paediatric radiology, surgery clinics, and the
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then to clarify the catheter has been placed in the fluid in the pleural space. I also helped undress the woman, so the doctor could access her back, as she was frail and unable to do this herself. It resulted in a remarkable two litres of fluid being drained off this tiny woman’s chest. I stood there wide-eyed, taking in what I had just witnessed. The delicacy and precision of modern medicine amazed me as well as what the human body is capable of doing. The experience of being taught by multiple medical students, registrars and consultations over the course of the two weeks has left a lasting impact on me. It has solidified the thoughts I had about doing medicine at university.
What is a pleural effusion?
woman’s hospital also. I was exposed to the reality of hospital livelihood and through multiple ward rounds, encountering the complexities and less glamorous side of the medical field. One of the most impactful things the doctors involved me in, was the insertion of a chest drain into an elderly woman’s chest. She was experiencing liver cirrhosis and as a result, had obtained a pleural effusion. The registrar showed me how the procedure was done, talking me through each step. He got me really involved in the approach; I helped with the ultrasound scan, used to locate the fourth and fifth intercostal space and
A pleural effusion is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the spaces between your pleura. This is the thin membrane lining the surface of your lungs and the inside of your chest wall. Everyone has a small volume of watery fluid in the pleural space, allowing lubrication in your chest cavity for smooth breathing. This fluid can become excessive due to a number of reasons:
Causes: -Leaking from other organs. Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of this due to the insufficient pumping of blood around your body. Both liver and kidney disease can also stimulate a
