What is
thoracentesis?
Critically ill or injured patients may accumulate fluid around one
or both
lungs
due to a number of different
disease processes. The fluid around the lung is called a
pleural effusion. The procedure that the doctors perform to
sample or drain the pleural effusion is called
thoracentesis.
How is thoracentesis performed?
The procedure is usually performed at the patient's bedside in the
ICU.
The doctor first uses numbing medicine (local
anesthetic) to numb an area of skin in between the ribs and then
a small needle and/or plastic tube (catheter)
is placed into the
pleural effusion. Some or all of the fluid is removed and sent
to the laboratory for testing. The tests may reveal why the fluid
developed and help guide how best to treat it. Usually the catheter
and the needle are removed after the
thoracentesis and a chest X-ray is taken to assess the lung.
Does thoracentesis hurt?
Thoracentesis is associated with minimal discomfort. Even this
is reduced by use of a
local
anesthetic.
Are there any potential complications
associated with thoracentesis?
Potential complications associated with
thoracentesis include bleeding,
infection, and
lung
collapse.
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Chest X-ray showing large left pleural effusion
(right side of picture) |
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Thoracentesis
