Thoracentesis and Thoracic Ultrasound: State of the Art in 2013

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Key points

  • Thoracentesis is an invaluable tool for assessing pleural disease.

  • The use of ultrasonography by trained professionals has enhanced this procedure’s safety and feasibility.

  • Routine ultrasonography enhances preprocedural, intraprocedural, and postprocedural assessment of the pleural space.

  • As equipment becomes more available and portable, its use is anticipated to grow and possibly become the standard of care.

Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis

The clinical or radiological recognition of a pleural effusion suggests an abnormal pathophysiological state resulting in an imbalance between absorption and production of fluid in the pleural space.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Thoracentesis is often divided into 2 categories, namely, diagnostic aspiration and therapeutic removal. Diagnostic thoracentesis is performed to obtain a small volume of fluid (50–100 mL) for the purpose of analysis, which is accomplished with a single percutaneous needle

Summary

Thoracentesis is an invaluable tool for assessing pleural disease. The use of US by trained professionals has enhanced this procedure’s safety and feasibility. Routine US enhances the preprocedural, intraprocedural, and postprocedural assessment of the pleural space. As equipment becomes more available and portable, its use is anticipated to grow and possibly become the standard of care.

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    The authors have nothing to disclose.

    Disclosures: None.

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