There is no accurate survival determination for pulmonary effusion due to its very diverse etiology.
Pneumonia, left heart failure, and lung cancer are possible causes of pulmonary effusion, all of which have different survival periods.
When infectious pneumonia occurs, it is usually localized and oozing, resulting in pleural effusion and fluid in the lungs, which can be effectively treated with anti-infective therapy and does not directly and significantly affect survival.
If the patient has pulmonary stasis and fluid in the lungs due to left heart failure, this condition generally indicates that the heart is in a symptom of poor cardiac function, and with active treatment, the patient’s survival period is generally 5 to 15 years, and the survival period of different patients may be affected depending on whether they are comorbid with other co-morbidities.
Fluid in the lungs caused by lung cancer is generally a symptom of late stage of lung cancer. In case of more serious small-cell lung cancer, the average survival period after fluid in the lungs is 1~2 years, and in case of less serious non-small-cell lung cancer, the patient can survive for about three years after active treatment.
Different patients have different physique and condition, so they should make reasonable judgment under the guidance of physicians and choose appropriate treatment plan to prolong the survival period.
Pulmonary effusion may also be caused by other reasons, such as tuberculosis, mediastinal tumors, etc. It should be treated actively after the cause is clarified.