Diagnosis and Management of Trapped Lung

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

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Presentation

Trapped lung commonly presents as an asymptomatic, chronic, unilateral pleural effusion. It is a diagnostic dilemma rather than a condition requiring treatment. Occasionally, patients present with dyspnea, restrictive dysfunction on pulmonary function testing, and no other apparent cause of their dyspnea. The patient may recall a remote episode of pleurisy or pneumonia, or report a history of CABG, end-stage renal disease, or other rarer conditions associated with the development of trapped lung.^1,4

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