Right Sided Haemorrhagic Pleural Effusion Secondary to Pancreatitis

ABSTRACT

A 28-year-old male patient, painter by occupation came to the department of pulmonology of Rajarajeswari Medical College, Kambipura, Karnataka, with complaints of right sided chest pain since 4 months, dry cough since one month and loss of appetite with significant weight loss. The patient was a chronic alcoholic and a non-smoker. History revealed that he was admitted in a primary health care centre for one week with similar complaints 3 months back and chest radiographs were taken. The radiograph showed right sided massive pleural effusion for which diagnostic thoracocentesis was done, which revealed haemorrhagic fluid. Pleural fluid analysis showed lymphocytic predominance; there after, repeated thoracocentesis was done in the same primary health centre and up to 5 litres of haemorrhagic pleural fluid was aspirated. Routine blood reports were within normal limits.