- Reference Number: HEY1574/2025
- Departments: Cardiac Surgery
- Last Updated: 30 April 2025
Fluid around the Lung
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your diagnosis showing a pleural effusion or fluid around the lung.
What is a Pleural Effusion
A pleural effusion is a collection or pooling of fluid which collects outside of your lung between your lung and chest wall or rib cage.
What are the symptoms of a Pleural Effusion?
Shortness of breath is the symptom caused by the build-up of fluid around your lung. Initially you notice that on exertion you are shorter of breath this worsens as the fluid builds up limiting your ability to mobilise or to care for yourself.
What causes a Pleural Effusion?
Causes of a pleural effusion include cancer, inflammation, and trauma to the chest. Exposure to asbestos, cigarette smoke and having certain cancers can cause a pleural effusion to develop. When exposure to asbestos occurred often many years ago, this is a specific type of cancer called mesothelioma.
Who can help and support me?
Your Macmillan Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist or best placed to help and support you on tel: 01482 461090.
