预防胸腔积液的主要病因的措施包括:接种针对肺炎链球菌肺炎的疫苗;对有发生肺栓塞风险的患者进行抗凝治疗;降低患心脏病的风险。
秋水仙碱可能有助于预防心外科术后早期的胸腔和心包积液。[11]Imazio M, Brucato A, Rovere ME, et al. Colchicine prevents early postoperative pericardial and pleural effusions. Am Heart J. 2011 Sep;162(3):527-32.e1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21884871?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Imazio M. Prevention of the postpericardiotomy syndrome, postoperative effusions, and atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, efficacy and safety of colchicine: evidence from the COPPS trial and substudies [in Italian]. G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2012 Oct;13(10):665-72.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23022970?tool=bestpractice.com