Due to the different causes of pulmonary effusion, its treatment methods as well as recovery time are also different and should be analyzed specifically. The causes include pneumonia parapneumonic pleural effusion, tuberculous pleural effusion, heart failure, malignant pleural effusion, etc., as follows: 1, pneumonia parapneumonic pleural effusion: through the anti-infective treatment, with the necessary closed drainage of the chest cavity, the general recovery time is about 2-3 weeks. 2, tuberculous pleural effusion: hospitalization time may take about two weeks, to be stabilized after the need to be given a full course of anti-tuberculosis treatment, such patients need 6-9 months. 3, heart failure: heart failure causes pulmonary effusion, its treatment and recovery time is different. The recovery time of such patients needs 6-9 months.3, heart failure: heart failure caused by pulmonary effusion, patients through the corresponding cardiac, diuretic, vasodilator and other treatments, its condition may be stabilized in about a week, but some patients with heart failure can not be completely recovered, to be consolidated to maintain the treatment.4, malignant pleural effusion: can not be cured, and the patient’s survival period is also shortened significantly. This kind of patients through to be appropriate anti-tumor treatment, with the necessary closed drainage of the chest cavity, etc., to improve clinical symptoms, prolong the survival period.