PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of pleural effusion?

1. Pneumonia

2. Congestive heart failure

3. Acute gastroenteritis

4. Rheumatoid arthritis

The correct answer is: Acute gastroenteritis

Pleural effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Common causes of pleural effusion include conditions that lead to increased fluid production or decreased fluid absorption in the pleural space. Pneumonia is known to cause pleural effusions due to inflammation and infection, leading to the development of parapneumonic effusions or empyema. Congestive heart failure often results in fluid overload, causing transudative pleural effusions due to elevated pressures in the pulmonary vasculature. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to pleural effusion through inflammatory processes affecting the pleura, known as rheumatoid pleuritis. Acute gastroenteritis, however, primarily involves the gastrointestinal system and usually does not directly lead to the formation of pleural effusions. While systemic effects of severe dehydration or infections can influence fluid status, acute gastroenteritis itself is not typically associated with causing changes in the pleural space. Thus, among the listed conditions, it is not commonly recognized as a direct cause of pleural effusion.