الفهرس 
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Abstract
Aim of the work
We prospectively studied patients admitted to the MICU and reviewed their serial radigraphs and clinical presentations to assess prevalence, causes and clinical significance of pleural effusion.
Conclusion and recommendations
Pleural effusion is common in medical intensive care patients.
The presence of pleural effusion as an indication of poor general condition (higher age groups, higher APACHE II score and lower serum albumin), longer ICU stay, longer mechanical ventilation (if present), and higher incidence of mortality.
Measuring of APACHE II score is preferable as high APACHE II is associated with high incidence of pleural effusion, high mortality, and poor outcome.
The use of serial daily chest radiography is very important in detecting early radiological signs of pleural effusion and use of beside ultasonography increase rate of detection of small pleural effusion.
The use of diagnostic thoracentesis in all medical ICU patients with pleural effusion (when possible and contraindicated) is a safe and useful in detecting the cause of pleural effusion and changing diagnosis and treatment of effusion.
Testing the underlying cause of pleural effusion is associated with improvement of pleural effusion.