12-07-2008, 03:35 AM
A 33 year old male was involved in a motor vehicle accident with numerous rib fractures. His course in the hospital was complicated by difficulty breathing and later developed pneumonia. The chest xray later confirmed that the patient had developed a parapneumonic effusion. Which one of the following parameter for the pleural fluid is currently regarded to be the most helpful in determining the need for chest tube placement in parapneumonic effusion?
A. Lactate dehydrogenase
B. WBC count
C. Pleural fluid PH
D. Total protein
E. colour of the pleural fluid
A. Lactate dehydrogenase
B. WBC count
C. Pleural fluid PH
D. Total protein
E. colour of the pleural fluid