Nursing Care for Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Complicated With Isolated Pleural Effusion Undergoing Thoracentesis and Drainage

Background: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a severe complication of assisted reproductive therapy. Patients with severe OHSS are complicated with pleuroperitoneal effusion, while isolated pleural effusion is clinically rare. Previous studies have shown that isolated unilateral pleural effusion caused by OHSS mostly involves the right side. Among the 14 patients with severe OHSS complicated with isolated pleural effusion admitted to our hospital from April 2020 to December 2024, the proportion of right-sided effusion was 85.71%, which was consistent with the literature reports. All patients recovered and were discharged after multidisciplinary diagnosis, treatment and nursing care. This study aimed to summarize the nursing experience and provide a reference for clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the nursing methods for 14 patients with severe OHSS complicated by isolated pleural effusion (IPE) who underwent puncture and drainage between April 2020 and December 2024. Results: All 14 patients completed thoracentesis and drainage, their symptoms were controlled, and each patient quickly navigated the critical period. Conclusions: Dynamic patient monitoring of the condition, standardized preoperative preparation, full-cycle catheter management, individualized psychological care, and multi-dimensional thrombosis prevention represent the main nursing measures for patients with severe OHSS complicated by IPE undergoing thoracentesis and drainage.