Removal of fluids/air from the pleural cavity of the lungs
Thoracentesis
Chest X-ray showing a left-sided pleural effusion (right side of image). This can be treated with thoracentesis.
ICD-9-CM
34.91
Other codes
OPCS-4.2T12.3
MedlinePlus
003420
[edit on Wikidata]
Thoracentesis/ˌθɔːrəsɪnˈtiːsɪs/, also known as thoracocentesis (from Greek θώραξ (thōrax, GEN thōrakos) 'chest, thorax', and κέντησις (kentēsis) 'pricking, puncture'), pleural tap, needle thoracostomy, or needle decompression (often used term), is an invasive medical procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A cannula, or hollow needle, is carefully introduced into the thorax, generally after administration of local anesthesia. The procedure was first performed by Morrill Wyman in 1850 and then described by Henry Ingersoll Bowditch in 1852.[1]
The recommended location varies depending upon the source. Some sources recommend the midaxillary line, in the eighth, ninth, or tenth intercostal space.[2] Whenever possible, the procedure should be performed under ultrasound guidance, which has shown to reduce complications.[3][4][5]
Tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency that requires needle decompression before a chest tube is placed.[6][7]
^Kelly, Howard A.; Burrage, Walter L. (eds.). "Wyman, Morrill" . American Medical Biographies. Baltimore: The Norman, Remington Company.
^"Human Gross Anatomy". Archived from the original on 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
^Gordon, Craig E.; Feller-Kopman, D; Balk, EM; Smetana, GW (22 February 2010). "Pneumothorax Following Thoracentesis". Archives of Internal Medicine. 170 (4): 332–9. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.548. PMID 20177035.
^Feller-Kopman, David (July 2007). "Therapeutic thoracentesis: the role of ultrasound and pleural manometry". Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 13 (4): 312–318. doi:10.1097/MCP.0b013e3281214492. PMID 17534178. S2CID 21367134.
^Daniels, Craig E; Ryu, Jay H (July 2011). "Improving the safety of thoracentesis". Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 17 (4): 232–236. doi:10.1097/MCP.0b013e328345160b. PMID 21346571. S2CID 25046432.
^Harcke, HT; Mabry, RL; Mazuchowski, EL (2013). "Needle thoracentesis decompression: observations from postmortem computed tomography and autopsy". Journal of Special Operations Medicine. 13 (4): 53–8. doi:10.55460/FWAO-F36G. PMID 24227562.
^Ball, Chad G.; Wyrzykowski, Amy D.; Kirkpatrick, Andrew W.; Dente, Christopher J.; Nicholas, Jeffrey M.; Salomone, Jeffrey P.; Rozycki, Grace S.; Kortbeek, John B.; Feliciano, David V. (2010). "Thoracic needle decompression for tension pneumothorax: clinical correlation with catheter length". Canadian Journal of Surgery. 53 (3): 184–188. PMC 2878990. PMID 20507791.
Thoracentesis /ˌθɔːrəsɪnˈtiːsɪs/, also known as thoracocentesis (from Greek θώραξ (thōrax, GEN thōrakos) 'chest, thorax', and κέντησις (kentēsis) 'pricking...
diagnostic thoracentesis. The doctor inserts a small needle or a thin, hollow, plastic tube in the chest wall and withdraws fluid. Thoracentesis can be done...
patients, diuresis can be tried, and thoracentesis is avoided unless effusions persist for more than 3 days. In a thoracentesis, a needle is inserted through...
000. Thoracentesis is the test most commonly used to diagnose a hemothorax in animals. Hemothorax can itself be a rare complication of thoracentesis if...
end-stage liver disease. Diagnosis involves extracting the fluid via thoracentesis; after this, the fluid is analyzed to diagnose and rule out other causes...
the anterior and posterior axillary lines. It is a landmark used in thoracentesis, and the V6 electrode of the 10 electrode ECG. The posterior axillary...
Pelikan tail T-tail Twin tail V-tail "Cruciform tail Pros and Cons". thoracentesis.science. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. "Aircraft Horizontal...
had serious respiratory problems. He had cancer and was undergoing thoracentesis (the draining of fluid from his chest) when he died on 18 August 2023...
the order NAV from superior to inferior). Invasive procedures such as thoracentesis are performed with oblique entry of the instrument, directly above the...
known as a spinal tap Paracentesis, also known as an abdominal tap Thoracentesis / thoracocentesis, also known as a pleural tap Tap Canutt (1932–2014)...
Toy, PT (1991). "Lack of increased bleeding after paracentesis and thoracentesis in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities". Transfusion. 31 (2):...
Pleural effusions can be treated in a similar manner, with repeated thoracentesis, pleurodesis, or placement of a drain. Radiation therapy can be used...
on correcting the cause of the finding. In the case of pneumothorax, thoracentesis or chest tube insertion is performed to relieve the pressure within...
and mediastinal shift to the contralateral side. [citation needed] Thoracentesis Costomediastinal recess Cardiophrenic angle This article incorporates...
endotracheal tube, tracheotomy (invasive) or mask, helmet (non-invasive). Thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy to remove fluid or air in the pleural cavity Percutaneous...
simple parapneumonic effusion, the fluid may be collected with a needle (thoracentesis), and examined. If this shows evidence of empyema, complete drainage...
fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid, this is done by thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy (chest tube); for ascites, with paracentesis or...
different lung abnormalities as well as to guide procedures such as thoracentesis, (drainage of pleural fluid (effusion)), needle aspiration biopsy, and...
images that are more precise. Once pleural effusion is detected, a thoracentesis is recommended. The fluid of a chylothorax may appear milky, serous...
a suspected side effect of dasatinib. Some of these people required thoracentesis or pleurodesis to treat the effusions. Other adverse events included...
to minimize damage to surrounding tissues and in drainages such as thoracentesis. Small, portable ultrasound devices now replace peritoneal lavage in...
management strategies have been suggested including careful observation, thoracentesis (needle aspiration), or insertion of a chest tube. Needle aspiration...
Support (BATLS), which includes advanced life support, cricothyrotomy and thoracentesis. At the rank of corporal, the combat medical technician also supervises...
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