Congestive Heart Failure and Thoracentesis

Letters and Corrections1 April 1986Congestive Heart Failure and ThoracentesisYIZHAK KUPFER, B.A., SIDNEY TESSLER, M.D.YIZHAK KUPFER, B.A.Search for more papers by this author, SIDNEY TESSLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-104-4-584_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: The position paper on thoracentesis and pleural effusions (1), in the November issue, states that thoracentesis is indicated in all patients with pleural effusions of unknown cause except in a "patient presenting with clear clinical manifestations of recurrent left ventricular failure" in whom "a trial of diuresis might precede consideration of thoracentesis." We question the strength of the association between left ventricular failure alone and pleural effusions.Most transudative effusions associated with congestive heart failure occur in patients with biventricular failure with consequent elevations of both the systemic and pulmonary venous pressures (2). Mellins and colleagues (3)...References1. . Diagnostic thoracentesis and pleural biopsy in pleural effusions. Ann Intern Med. 1985;103:799-802. LinkGoogle Scholar2. CHETTY K. Transudative pleural effusions. Clin Chest Med. March 1985;6:49-54. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. MELLINSLEVINEFISHMAN ROA. Effects of systemic and pulmonary venous hypertension on pleural and pericardial fluid accumulation. J Appl Physiol. 1970;29:564-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MCPEAKLEVINE ES. The preponderance of right hydrothorax in congestive heart failure. Ann Intern Med. 1946;25:916-27. LinkGoogle Scholar5. WEISSSPODICK JD. Laterality of pleural effusions in chronic congestive heart failure. Am J Cardiol. 1984;53:951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. PILLAY V. Total proteins in serous fluids in cardiac failure. S Afr Med J. 1965;39:142-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar1. MELLINSLEVINEFISHMAN ROA. Effect of systemic and pulmonary venous hypertension on pleural and pericardial fluid accumulation. J Appl Physiol. 1970;29:564-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. . Diagnostic thoracentesis and pleural biopsy in pleural effusions. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:799-802. Google Scholar3. PILLAY V. Total proteins in serous fluids in cardiac failure. S Afr Med J. 1965;39:142-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByTreatment of Congestive Heart Failure 1 April 1986Volume 104, Issue 4Page: 584-585KeywordsClinical trialsHeart failurePleural effusion Issue Published: 1 April 1986 PDF DownloadLoading ...