Investigations

• triglycerides (suspected pancreatitis or oesophageal rupture)
  • abnormal if > 1.0 mmol/l  ^c

Why?

Elevated triglyceride levels make a chylous effusion more likely

Patient c	Target Disorder and Reference Standard	Diagnostic Test	LR+ (95% CI)	Post-test Probability	LR- (95% CI)	Post-test Probability
pleural effusion (pre-test probability: 27%)	chylous fluid (chylomicrons in pleural fluid)	triglyceride 1.0 mmol/l or more	13 (6.2 to 27)	83%	0.14 (0.062 to 0.32)	5%