Pleural space disease is a common cause of respiratory distress in emergent and critical patients. Air, fluid, exudates, chyle, blood, or herniated abdominal organs may be present in the chest cavity. When any space occupying condition occurs, the lungs cannot expand normally and pulmonary function may fail. Patients must be stabilized first with oxygen if in distress. And for patients with rapid respiratory compromise a thoracocentesis (chest tap) should be performed before diagnostics such as radiographs.
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