[Diagnosis of pleurisy in an emergency setting]

In a medical context, it is important to precise if the pleurisy is associated with signs of tamponnade, and/or clinical presentation of ominous organic distress (acute respiratory failure, septic, haemorragic, or cardiogenic shock) or pulmonary embolism. Presence of pleural tamponnade leads to immediate decompression pleural puncture which improves rapidly in general the clinical tolerance, and later permits etiologic treatment. In more severe conditions, pleural evacuation is done in parallel with cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. If hydropneumothorax is present, immediate drainage with a chest tube will be performed. In other situations, the presence of an abundant pleural effusion with clear fluid necessitates partial needle evacuation to authorize secondarily complementary investigations with pleural biopsy. If purulent pleurisy is discovered, immediate evacuation of pus is mandatory, with needle pleural lavage or chest tube. In all cases, the pleural fluid requires complete haematological, biochemical, and cytologic as well as bacteriological analysis. In the surgical emergency ward, if an opened wound is discovered (gun shot, blunt object or weapon), cardiocirculatory resuscitation is often mandatory, with immediate transfer to the operation ward for an exploratory thoracotomy. If a closed thoracic trauma is present, the problem is generally the management of an hemo(pneumo)thorax with chest tube drainage leading sometimes if the pleural bleeding persists to thoracotomy.