[Pathophysiological changes in a lung cancer patient suffering from pleural effusion: a case analysis]

Pleural effusion--perhaps the most common and serious complication among lung cancer patients--causes dyspnea, chest pain, and coughing, leading to a painful series of examinations, treatments, and additional complications. This exerts a strong effect on the functional status and psychological well-being of cancer patients, requiring special treatment responses on the part of nursing professionals. The authors introduce concepts related to pathophysiology, etiology, and the clinical assessment of pleural effusion, using a single case study to compare clinical data with theoretical and empirical knowledge. An individualized nursing intervention developed for this particular case is presented and discussed.