What is Pleural Effusion?

A lot of people think that pleural effusion is a type of disease. No. it’s not. It’s actually a complication caused by a disorder. Pleural mesothelioma is one of the reasons why a person manifests pleural effusion. Heart failure, pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, tuberculosis, and malignancies or tumors also trigger the occurrence of this condition.

Among the manifestations of pleural effusion include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, cough, or hiccups. Pleural effusion occurs when fluid accumulate around the lungs. Also known as visceral and parietal pleura, these membranes wrap and protect the lungs. They also lubricate to allow them to function properly. They exist with other organs also. However, their functions are threatened if fluid accumulates in these layers of tissue, lining the lungs and chest cavity. Thus occur malignant pleural mesothelioma, the cancer that hits the lining of the lung after mild or excessive exposure to asbestos.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP) reduces pulmonary function of mesothelioma patients

The Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals can reveal that patients who opt for pleural/decortication (P/D) has more chances of enjoying a more comfortable life compared to patients who undergo extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).

Pleural mesothelioma originates from the skinny lining that wraps the lungs. Since it is very near the lungs, there is a high probability that pleural mesothelioma will eventually extend to the lung itself, thus, undermining the latter’s function. In the long run, the diseased mesothelium eventually thickens and hardens, thus, preventing the lungs’ expansion every time a patient breathes.

Pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy are the two major types of surgical treatments offered to mesothelioma patients. However, the medical community is divided as to which of the two offers better relief to the patients. While both operations are invasive in nature and aim to eliminate diseased pleural tissue, studies show that only extrapleural pneumonectomy can remove the diseased lung, the lymph nodes, parts of the covering of the heart (pericardium) and part if not all of the diaphragm, too.