Differentiation between a hemothorax and a hemorrhagic effusion on a bloody pleural fluid is done by:
A) Observing the fluid for streaks of blood, because this indicates a hemothorax
B) Performing a hematocrit value, because a hemothorax will give a value close to that of blood
C) Performing a red blood cell (RBC) count, because a hemorrhagic effusion will have a count over 100,000/L
D) Performing both RBC and white blood cell (WBC) counts, because a hemothorax will have marked elevations of both cell types

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Performing a hematocrit value is the best way to differentiate between a hemothorax and a hemorrhagic effusion in a bloody pleural fluid, because a hemothorax will have a value close to that of blood, while a hemorrhagic effusion will have a lower value due to the dilution of blood with other fluids in the pleural space. Observing the fluid for streaks of blood (A) is not a reliable method, as both hemothorax and hemorrhagic effusions can appear bloody. Performing a red blood cell (RBC) count (C) can give some additional information, but is not as definitive as the hematocrit value. Performing both RBC and white blood cell (WBC) counts (D) may be useful in determining if the pleural fluid is a transudate or exudate, but is not specific to differentiating between hemothorax and hemorrhagic effusion.

Differentiation Between a Hemothorax and a Hemorrhagic Effusion on a Bloody