‘Tap that’…managing effusions in the dyspnoeic patient. Drains, diagnostics and fluid cytology
20 Nov 2025
IDEXX Advanced Diagnostics Stream
Diagnostics
,
Emergency Medicine
,
Internal Medicine
This session will explore the practical and diagnostic approach to the dyspnoeic patient with a pleural effusion. Rapid stabilisation is generally required in these critical patients to improve outcomes. We will cover how safely stabilise the dyspnoeic patient and discuss the diagnostic tests required to reach a definitive diagnosis. We will discuss how to recognise different effusion types and the use of cytological interpretation to differentiate between transudates, exudates, chylous effusions, and neoplastic effusions. Placement and care of chest drains will also be reviewed.
- Understand how to diagnose pleural effusions
- Understand how to differentiate between transudates, exudates and chylous effusions