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Empiema - Overview

Definición:

Es una acumulación de pus en el espacio que se encuentra entre el pulmón y la superficie interna de la pared torácica (espacio pleural).

Causas:

El empiema generalmente es causado por una infección que se disemina desde el pulmón y que lleva a una acumulación de pus en el espacio pleural.

Puede haber 470 cc o más de líquido infectado, el cual ejerce presión sobre los pulmones.

Los factores de riesgo son, entre otros:

En casos poco frecuentes, el empiema se puede presentar después de introducir una aguja a través de la pared torácica con el fin de extraer líquido del espacio pleural para un diagnóstico o tratamiento médico (toracocentesis).

  • Reviewed last on: 3/11/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Celli BR. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 100.

Broaddus VC, Light RW. Pleural effusion. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 68.

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