Introduction:

An increase in the prevalence of parapneumonic pleural effusion has been observed in recent decades. Intrapleural fibrinolysis for treatment allows destruction of fibrin bridges facilitating drainage, but it is not without complications.

Objective:

to describe the use of fibrinolytics and its possible hematologic complications in parapneumonic pleural effusion.

Methods:

a bibliographic review on parapneumonic pleural effusion was carried out. Author criteria and research results available in SciELO, Medline, PubMED databases were expressed. A total of 30 bibliographic references were used, more than 75 % of the literature consulted corresponds to the last five years.

Development:

Pleural effusion can range from the appearance of scarce serous fluid in the pleural cavity to an exudate mainly of bacterial origin. The clinical situation, the size of the effusion and its characteristics are determinants of decision making.

Conclusions:

Pleural effusion in the last 10 years an increase in its incidence has been reported, specifically of pneumococcal and staphylococcal etiology. Treatment consists of antibiotic administration associated with fibrinolytics and/or surgical treatment. Among the fibrinolytics to be used is streptokinase. Its indication will be in complex effusion. The most frequent complication at pleural level is hemorrhage.

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