What is thoracentesis?

What is thoracentesis?

• A. A procedure to remove fluid from the pleural space around the lungs
• B. A method to drain air from the pleural space
• C. A test to evaluate kidney function
• D. A procedure to repair a damaged rib

Answer: (A)

Removing fluid from the pleural space around the lungs is what thoracentesis accomplishes. This bedside procedure, usually done with local anesthesia and sometimes guided by ultrasound, uses a fine needle or small catheter to access the pleural space between the ribs. It serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes: pleural fluid can be sampled for analysis to help determine the cause of an effusion (infection, cancer, heart failure, etc.) and its composition (transudate vs exudate, pH, protein, cytology, cultures), while removing fluid can relieve shortness of breath when the effusion is large. Potential risks include pneumothorax, bleeding, infection, and reaccumulation of fluid. Draining air from the pleural space would require a chest tube or needle decompression, not thoracentesis; evaluating kidney function or repairing a rib are unrelated to this procedure.

Removing fluid from the pleural space around the lungs is what thoracentesis accomplishes. This bedside procedure, usually done with local anesthesia and sometimes guided by ultrasound, uses a fine needle or small catheter to access the pleural space between the ribs. It serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes: pleural fluid can be sampled for analysis to help determine the cause of an effusion (infection, cancer, heart failure, etc.) and its composition (transudate vs exudate, pH, protein, cytology, cultures), while removing fluid can relieve shortness of breath when the effusion is large. Potential risks include pneumothorax, bleeding, infection, and reaccumulation of fluid. Draining air from the pleural space would require a chest tube or needle decompression, not thoracentesis; evaluating kidney function or repairing a rib are unrelated to this procedure.