Pleural Effusion Drainage in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Monitored by EIT

Critically ill patients treated in intensive care units have a disorder of distribution and volume of body fluids due to principal illness and some therapeutic interventions. One of its manifestations is pleural effusion (PE) formation. Patients on mechanical ventilation indicated by treating physician to pleural fluid evacuation will be monitored throughout the procedure by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and concurrently end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) will be measured. The purpose of the study is to better understand impact of PE evacuation on aeration and ventilation of the lungs.