Diagnosis and Management of Trapped Lung

By Peter Doelken, MD, FCCP; and Steven A. Sahn, MD, FCCP

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Causes of Trapped Lung

Trapped lung is a residual condition resulting from a remote inflammatory pleural process. The responsible process must have caused a pleural effusion that persisted long enough for a mature fibrous membrane to develop over the visceral pleura. This membrane prevents pleural apposition after eventual resolution of the inflammatory process. Among the causes of trapped lung are uremic pleuritis, complicated parapneumonic effusion, postcardiac surgery, postcardiac injury syndrome, hemothorax, rheumatoid pleuritis, and tuberculous pleurisy.^2,13-20 Obviously, appropriate management, including drainage and/or specific therapy during the acute stage of these conditions, may prevent the development of trapped lung. However, in some cases the process may have been subclinical or the patient may have never sought medical attention.

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