…complicated parapneumonic effusion. Suspected malignancy, tuberculous pleurisy or chylothorax. Therapeutic aspiration: dyspnoea caused by a pleural effusion, whatever the aetiology. Chest drainage: empyema, complicated parapneumonic…

…tamponade — the only absolute indication, and always urgent. A large pericardial effusion with symptoms despite medical treatment. Diagnostic drainage in suspected purulent pericarditis, tuberculosis or…

…Causes Tamponade shares the causes of pericardial effusion. Important clinical associations include: Idiopathic or viral pericarditis Malignant pericardial disease Tuberculosis Purulent or bacterial pericarditis Trauma…

…Erythematosus (SLE) Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Post infarction (including Dressler syndrome) Uremia Radiation to the heart Trauma Tuberculousis Neoplasms (cancer) Post cardiac surgery (hemorrhagic pericarditis)…

Procedurer The commonest error in paracentesis is not performing it. Every patient admitted with ascites should undergo a diagnostic paracentesis , because spontaneous bacterial peritonitis often…

…viral, bacterial, and tuberculous infections. Post pericardiotomy syndrome. Acute transmural myocardial infarction. Rupture of the free ventricular wall. Neoplasms (particularly breast and lung cancer). Inflammatory…