Management of pleural effusions

Abstract The management of pleural effusions affects all specialties in medicine. Chest drains are painful procedures not without risk and every doctor should be familiar with the indication for aspiration or drain insertion and the key differences and risks between an open surgically inserted chest drain and a Seldinger technique ultrasound-guided chest drain insertion. This article aims to give an overall guide to the causes of pleural effusions and how to manage them.