This page was last reviewed 21-05-20
Services
- The ‘pleural service’ includes: out-patients pleural diagnostics and therapeutics (including therapeutic aspiration and long-term indwelling pleural catheters)
- The service can usually accommodate urgent referrals but not emergencies
- CXR or CT imaging is essential before referral
- The common causes of pleural effusion are cancer, para-pneumonic, left ventricular failure. Less common causes are TB, connective tissue disease
Who to refer:
- Patients with pleural effusion confirmed on CXR
Who not to refer:
- Suspected Pneumothorax should attend A+E (RIE) or MAU (WGH)
- Pleural plaques/pleural thickening. See Refhelp section on ‘occupational chest disease‘ for guidance
- Small/moderate bilateral pleural effusions in patients with documented left ventricular dysfunction.
How to refer:
- RIE: Use SCI FAO of Dr John McCafferty or email RIE.Respiratoryoncall@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
- WGH: Use SCI: FAO Dr Andrew Leitch or email pleuralservice.wgh@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk (emails reviewed daily during the week)
- St John’s: use SCI FAO of Respiratory Consultant
