Pulmonary effusion is a clinical condition, and whether or not it is life-threatening is determined by the amount of effusion and the nature of the original disease.
The patient has only a small amount of fluid in the lungs and it is inflammatory in nature. After aggressive treatment with antibiotics, the fluid may be absorbed through the autologous blood circulation and the patient may not have significant symptoms and is very unlikely to be life-threatening. If the amount of pulmonary effusion is relatively large, symptomatic treatment such as thoracentesis can also be administered and the condition can be controlled.
If there is a large amount of fluid in the lungs it is likely to compress the lung tissue and affect the patient’s breathing, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. In addition to compressing lung tissue, massive pulmonary effusion may also compress the heart, resulting in conditions such as inadequate blood supply to the heart. Patients who have an acute onset may experience significant ischemic and hypoxic symptoms that can be life-threatening. If the formation of hydronephrosis is caused by malignant diseases such as lung cancer, the primary disease itself can also endanger the patient’s life. It is recommended that the cause of the disease be diagnosed and then treated actively according to medical advice.