Peer Responses: Length: A minimum of 275 words per post, not including reference

Peer Responses:
Length: A minimum of 275 words per post, not including references
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA per post from within the last 5 years
For this week, I decided to focus on the imaging interpretation of pleural effusions. I wanted to focus on imaging because I am not familiar with reading X-rays, CTs, or MRIs by just looking at them so I thought this would be a good way for me to learn. I also focused on pleural effusions because in the hospital working as a bedside nurse, we do have a few patients that have pleural effusions on their radiographic imaging. In the clinic settings, if the patient was sent for a stat X-ray or CT, the provider who ordered it should be able to determine the treatment based on the scans. It is important for this reason to understand films or know how to interpret them.
Pleural effusions are caused by several things such as: CHF, pneumonia, cancer, liver cirrhosis, and kidney disease (Lababede, 2019). The type of fluid can be dependent on the underlying pathophysiology. The fluid can be transudate, nonpurulent exudate, pus, blood, or chyle (Lababede, 2019). Pleural fluid can rise and when this happens, it produces a meniscus shape medially and laterally (Learning Radiology, 2019). If there is a meniscus sign and if it is present, it is a good indicator of a pleural effusion (Learning Radiology, 2019).
A loculated effusion occurs secondary to adhesions that form between the visceral and parietal pleura (Learning Radiology, 2019). Adhesions are more common with a hemothorax and empyema (Learning Radiology, 2019). A loculated effusion has an odd shape such as a lentiform (Learning Radiology, 2019). A laminar effusion collects in the loose connective tissue between the lungs and visceral pleura (Learning Radiology, 2019). It occurs typically with congestive heart failure and lymphangitic spread of malignancy (Learning Radiology, 2019).