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Drainage of large pleural effusions increases left ventricular preload
Johan F Hermansen1, Peter Juhl-Olsen1, Christian A Frederiksen1
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to investigate if pleurocentesis in patients with pleural effusion would lead to changes in systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle.
Design:
The study was descriptive, and patients were their own controls.
Setting:
The setting was a single-center university hospital.
Participants:
Patients with pleural effusion requiring pleurocentesis were eligible for inclusion.
Interventions:
The participants who had pleurocentesis performed were available for analysis.
Measurements And Main Results:
Prior to pleurocentesis and approximately 1 hour after, patients were examined primarily with transthoracic echocardiography. The examination included measurements of left ventricular volumes and measures of diastolic function assessed by Doppler echocardiography. Thirty-five patients were included, and 11 later were excluded, yielding a study population of 24. Preload, expressed as left ventricular end-diastolic volume, increased significantly from before to after pleurocentesis (p=0.014). None of the diastolic parameters showed significant results. Significant changes were observed for heart rate, supplementary O2, respiratory frequency, and saturation.
Conclusions:
Pleurocentesis increased left ventricular preload and improved respiratory function.
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