QuestionHi, I've asked this question to another doc on here, but I'm still waiting for the answer (a week now.) My Grandma has transudative left-sided pleural effusion. It's not CHF, and it's not a malignancy. Kidneys are fine too. She's home now with a PleurX catheter and the nurse drains the fluid every 3 days. Her doctor is hoping for it to eventually stop filling up by using this method, but I really don't see much improvement. The nurse can drain anywhere from 200-1400 cc's every 3 days. I've seen the fluid, it looks a lot like beer. It's clear and sort of "golden." Just wondering if you have any idea what else could be causing this effusion. The doctors aren't too concerned since it's not being caused by the obvious reasons, but the problem still remains, and my Grandma is getting more and more nervous about it. She's 86 years old, but very sharp and active, doing quite well otherwise. She's diabetic and should probably be on insulin, but she refuses. So she takes a sugar pill and watches her diet the best she can. I've researched the causes of left-sided pleural effusion and I just keep getting the same causes over and over again. She's had thoracentesis done twice testing for all the major problems, and she's been cleared of them.. twice. Please let me know if you can think of any other things that could be causing this, or what else she could be tested for, considering her age. Thanks so much and I hope to hear from you soon!
AnswerTransudate versus exudate- sometimes a grey zone.
Causes- many..... but obviously this is an active process since fluid being produced..... Infection is easy to eliminate since you have active fluid, CHF more difficult to exclude. I imagine she is seeing the appropriate specialists... pulmonary and cardiology.
TB takes time to assess/grow out, but a tb test should have already been done.
Sorry I don't have a great answer for you......
