We searched Medline (1966 to 1999), standard textbooks of thoracic surgery, and life support manuals for articles that answered questions that in our experience non-specialists commonly ask of specialists in the diagnosis and management of pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and empyema.

The pleura is a thin serous layer, which covers the lungs (visceral pleura) and is reflected, by way of the lung hila, on to the chest wall and pericardium (parietal pleura). The pleural space thus created extends from the root of the neck, 3 cm above the mid-point of the clavicle, down behind the abdominal cavity, in the costodiaphragmatic recess, to the 12th rib overlying the kidney.¹ Only a thin layer of pleural fluid separates the parietal and visceral pleura. The parietal layer secretes 2400 ml of fluid daily, which is resorbed by the visceral layer.² Maintenance of negative intrapleural pressure is necessary for respiration.

Pneumothorax describes air within the pleural cavity. Pneumothorax may be spontaneous, secondary to an underlying disease such as emphysema or asthma, traumatic, or iatrogenic. “Spontaneous” pneumothoraces usually arise from rupture of small subpleural blebs.³ After the first spontaneous pneumothorax there is a 10% chance of recurrence,⁴ and after a second pneumothorax this increases to 40%.⁵

A first pneumothorax without dyspnoea in a patient without chronic lung disease can be managed by observation. The presence of dyspnoea or underlying lung disease requires needle aspiration of the air.⁸ Patients with associated haemothorax, with recently decompressed tension pneumothoraces, on ventilators, or who have had unsuccessful conservative treatment should all be treated by chest drainage.⁸

Inserting chest drains The insertion of chest drains has been discussed in many texts,^7,9,10 but the importance of the insertion site and the blunt dissection and non-trocar technique merit emphasis. Insertion should be within the “triangle of safety” through the fifth interspace (fig 1). This is level with the nipple in a man, and the root of the breast in a woman. Insertion through lower spaces carries the risk of entering the abdomen. Insertion with sharp instruments carries a serious risk of injuring intrathoracic or abdominal viscera.

Figure 1 “Triangle of safety”: X shows preferred site for drain insertion

Management of chest drains If management of chest drains is optimal, 87%-91% of spontaneous pneumothoraces can be managed without surgery.^11,12 Upon insertion the drain should be connected to a one-way valve system. An underwater seal is most commonly used, but the Heimlich valve is useful outside the hospital or during transport. An underwater seal will swing with respiration. It is common practice to apply 2.5 to 5 kPa of suction to the outlet from the underwater seal bottle. This is only essential if the lung does not re-expand immediately or if there is an incompletely drained haemopneumothorax. In the presence of a noticeable air leak it is important to ensure that any suction apparatus can remove the volume of air leaked. If not it will prevent resolution of the pneumothorax and may place it under tension. Similarly, a drain with an air leak should never be clamped. The underwater seal may not swing when suction is used, but the difference between the height of the water in the bottle and the tube indicates the negative pressure being applied to the pleural cavity. Figure 2 shows the subsequent management of a chest drain.

Figure 2 Management of intercostal drain in pneumothorax

Patients with a previous pneumothorax (on either side), emphysema, or who do not settle after one or two weeks of effective conservative management should be referred to a specialist centre.¹² Pleurodesis through the chest drain using talc, tetracycline, or autologous blood may seal the leak.^6,13,14

Patients who are fit are best treated by video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (fig 3), with sealing of the air leak and pleurectomy to prevent recurrence.^15,16 This is effective in 93% of patients, with most treatment failures evident within 30 days.¹⁷ In patients who are unfit for surgery and who have persistent air leaks the underwater seal may be changed to a flutter bag allowing them to be mobilised and discharged.¹⁸

Figure 3 Apical bulla seen during video assisted bullectomy and pleurodesis for pneumothorax

Pleural effusion describes fluid (transudative or exudative) within the pleural space. Transudates(protein concentration less than 3.0 g/dl) are secondary to underlying disease, such as heart failure, or medical disorders leading to hypoalbuminaemia (for example, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, protein losing enteropathy). Usually there is evidence of the primary diagnosis. Exudates (protein concentration greater than 3.0 g/dl) are usually caused by infection (bacterial or mycobacterial), malignancy, collagen vascular disease, pancreatitis, or pulmonary embolism.¹⁹

Differentiating consolidation of the lung from pleural effusion on x ray film may be difficult. The presence of air bronchograms indicates a consolidated lung. Pleural effusions, however, can be confirmed by ultrasonography or by noting the shift of fluid on lateral decubitus films. Ultrasonography is the method of choice as a drainage site can be marked (or the fluid drained) by the radiologist.²⁰ It is important to note the presence of any other intrapulmonary masses, hilar lymphadenopathy, or pleural plaques, although these may not be visible until after the effusion has been drained.

If the patient has symptoms, the fluid should be drained off. The technique is similar to needle sampling but a 14 gauge intravenous cannula is used. The stylet is removed and the cannula connected to a closed pleural aspiration kit. All fluid is aspirated and sent for analysis. If more than 1.5 litres of fluid is obtained, fluid shifts can result in haemodynamic instability or pulmonary oedema. This is, however, rare in clinical practice.

Pleural fluid should be analysed for protein and glucose concentration, pH, bacteria—including acid fast bacilli—and cell content (three samples). If the fluid appears chylous, more specialised analysis is required.²¹ About 80% of the time, cytology (three samples) identifies a malignant effusion²²; false positives are rare.²³

Closed needle biopsy of the pleura is best performed early in the investigation of a pleural exudate, at the time of drainage of the effusion.²⁴ This identifies 75% of cases of tuberculosis.²⁵ The technique is also useful if malignancy is suspected,²⁶ and, combined with cytology, 90% of cases will be diagnosed.²⁷ If mesothelioma is suspected video assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be a more useful technique.²⁸

If the effusion is a transudate secondary to systemic disease such as heart failure or nephrotic syndrome, it will not resolve until the disease is treated. It may be necessary to tap the effusion periodically to relieve symptoms; prolonged chest drainage results in significant protein and fluid losses.

Indications for insertion of chest drain Patients with exudates not secondary to an underlying systemic disease that recur after aspiration, or parapneumonic effusions with a pH of less than 7.2 and a glucose concentration of less than 3.33 mmol/l, require an intercostal drain.²⁹ The same technique and site is used as for pneumothorax.

Management of drain Low suction (2.5-5 kPa) may be useful in the management of these drains, but unlike a pneumothorax it can be interrupted to allow mobilisation. The drain should remain in place until less than 100 ml of fluid is being drained per day. At this point the drain can be removed if the underlying cause has been treated. There is no need to clamp the drain. If, however, there is an underlying malignancy that has not been treated (or is untreatable) then chemical pleurodesis with talc, bleomycin,³⁰ or tetracycline through the chest drain may be beneficial. The drain is removed when the lung is expanded and less than 100 ml of fluid is being drained per day. In some patients it takes many weeks for the drainage to settle, in which case the patient can be discharged home with the drain connected to a flutter bag. If the lung fails to expand (this may occur with mesothelioma or malignant effusions) a pleuroperitoneal shunt may be necessary.³¹

Empyema describes pus within the pleural space. Causes of empyema may be parapneumonic, occur after trauma or surgery, or be associated with malignancy. Anaerobic bacteria, usually streptococci or Gram negative rods, are responsible for 76% of cases.³²

Figure 4 Chest x ray film of patient with empyema showing consolidation and pleural fluid

Patients who are unfit for a major procedure may be treated by thrombolytic instillation or by thoracostomy, which drains the abscess via a small incision in the chest wall.^34,35 Usually part of a rib is resected, and a large tube drain is placed in the cavity. Since the abscess cavity is walled off from the rest of the pleural space, it can be left open to atmospheric pressure. Usually a thick gauze dressing or a stoma bag is placed over the drain to catch the exudate. The abscess cavity gradually collapses down around the drain, which is periodically shortened. Antibiotics have little part to play. The cavity may take several months to close, so patients are usually managed at home.

Patients with empyema may require prolonged specialist treatment. Although most patients can be treated expediently some will spend several months at home with a chest drain or thoracostomy and receive shared care from a district nurse, doctor, and cardiothoracic surgeon.

We thank David Mitton for help with the illustrations.