. Diseases of children. If left to itself, the purulent effusion may killby sepsis or it may perforate into the lung, the pus thenbeing coughed up and expectorated. It sometimesperforates into the surrounding organs or tissues, causinga local abscess. Diagnosis.—If there is any doubt as to the character ofthe fluid in the pleural cavity, this may be cleared up bypuncturing the cavity with an exploring needle; an ordinaryhypodermic syringe is used for this purpose. At the pointselected by the physician for puncturing, after the skinhas been rendered aseptic by scrubbing with tincture of 86 DISE
. Diseases of children. If left to itself, the purulent effusion may killby sepsis or it may perforate into the lung, the pus thenbeing coughed up and expectorated. It sometimesperforates into the surrounding organs or tissues, causinga local abscess. Diagnosis.—If there is any doubt as to the character ofthe fluid in the pleural cavity, this may be cleared up bypuncturing the cavity with an exploring needle; an ordinaryhypodermic syringe is used for this purpose. At the pointselected by the physician for puncturing, after the skinhas been rendered aseptic by scrubbing with tincture of 86 DISEASES OF CHILDREN FOR NURSES green soap and alcohol, a sterile needle attached to thesyringe is plunged through an interspace into the pleuralcavity and the syringe is slowly filled. The character ofthe effusion will at once be apparent, pus showing as acreamy-white fluid. At times the needle may not find pus,even when it is present. This may be on account of largeflakes of lymph obstructing the needle or because the. Fig. 25.—Apparatus for aspiration (Kerley). needle has penetrated too far and gone completelythrough the cavity. Care and repeated punctures willusually overcome this contingency. Treatment.—After it has been definitely decided thatthe case is one of empyema there are two procedureswhich the physician may follow. In the large number DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT 87 of cases he will have the child operated upon. In afewer number of cases he will have the pleural cavityaspirated. Operation.—This consists in opening the pleural cavity,removing the pus, and draining. There are severalmethods employed. A simple incision or an incision
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookiddisea, booksubjectchildren
