you can try this site
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001150/
or Google your search using your term "pleural fluid".
I had a pacemaker implanted and within days I had fluid build up in the heart sac (occurred twice within a month) and then at two different times (also a month apart), both lungs. for the lungs they performed thoracentesis - a needle inserted through the back and drained in both cases over 1 liter of fluid. so far no repeat since the last episode over six weeks ago but I would love to see what other responses you get. what is your cause of fluid build up? for me, that was not determined but the obvious - to me - culprit would be the trauma of the pacemaker implant... be well, Rich

Rich the culprit in my case is unknown. I had a thoracotomy and radical lymph node dissection in my chest in Dec so possible that . I have no spots in my lung but who knows it may be from the cancer. My oncologist brought up this surgery but said it wasn't common as this will be my second thoracentesis in 5 weeks. The first one 2600ml. So we talked about pleurodesis where they scare your lung with talc to stop fluid build up. He said it was very painful and I would have a chest tube which I had in Dec and the pain of that is too fresh in my mind. Then there is putting in a drain to drain it every so often but that means no hot baths, no jacuzzis,pools, snorkling. And not an option for now. So I wondered if anyone has experienced any thing besides the thoracentesis which wasn't too bad.

thoracentesis is a walk in the park compared to the effusion process I had. effusion is no fun. painful, they put you under anesthesia and requires a hospital stay. the thoracentesis is half a day as an outpatient. still, if it becomes an ongoing process I would dearly like to know what the cause is and what a more patient friendly treatment would be. Rich