Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

pleural effusion
See 
effusion, pleural.
pleural space
The tiny area between the two
pleurae, which is normally filled with a small
amount of fluid. See also 
effusion, pleural.
pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleurae, the mem-
branes surrounding the lungs. Symptoms include
pain in the chest, chest tenderness, cough, and
shortness of breath. The chest pain is sharp and
aggravated by breathing. A physician can often hear
with a stethoscope the friction generated by the rub-
bing of the two inflamed layers of pleurae with each
breath. The causes of pleurisy include lung infec-
tions, collagen vascular diseases such as lupus and
rheumatoid arthritis, cancer of the lung or pleura,
heart failure, pulmonary embolism (blood clot in
the lungs), obstruction of lymph channels, trauma
such as rib fractures, drugs such as Dilantin, pan-
creatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Removal of pleu-
ral fluid, when present, with a needle and syringe is
key in diagnosing the cause of pleurisy and can also
relieve the pain and shortness of breath associated
with pleurisy. If the fluid is infected, treatment
involves use of antibiotics and drainage of the fluid.
In severe cases, in which there are large amounts of
pus and scar tissue (adhesions), there may be a
need for decortication (opening the pleural space
and removing portions of one or two ribs in order
to clear scar tissue and remove pus and debris).
Also known as pleuritis.
pleuritis
See 
pleurisy.
pleurodesis
A procedure that causes the mem-
branes around the lungs to stick together and pre-
vents the buildup of fluid in the space between the
membranes (pleural space). Pleurodesis is done in
cases of severe recurrent pleural effusions (out-
pourings of fluid around the lungs) to prevent the
reaccumulation of the fluid. During pleurodesis, an
irritant is instilled inside the pleural space in order
to create inflammation that tacks the two pleura
together. This procedure thereby permanently oblit-
erates the space between the pleura and prevents
the reaccumulation of fluid.