Thoracentesis (THOR-a-sen-TE-sis) is a procedure to remove excess fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This space is called the pleural space. Normally, the pleural space is ...

Thoracentesis usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. If there's a lot of fluid, it may take up to 45 minutes. Your doctor inserts a needle or tube between your ribs and into the pleural space.

Pleural effusions do not require thoracentesis if too small to safely aspirate or, in clinically stable patients, if explained by underlying congestive heart failure or by recent thoracic.

Therefore, early thoracentesis to obtain pleural fluid for analysis should be considered whenever there is >10 mm of fluid on lateral decubitus films.

Thoracentesis and Pleural Fluid Analysis; Thoracentesis may be performed for diagnosis or therapy. A long thin needle is injected into the pleural space to remove fluid that is sent for testing to ...

On admission, thoracentesis revealed 3 liters of straw-colored fluid, with a lactate dehydrogenase level of 132 U per liter (serum lactate dehydrogenase level, 228 U per liter), a ratio of pleural ...

The most common diagnostic characteristic seen in a thoracentesis is fluid in the pleural space which occupies more than 10mm in thickness on lateral decubitus radiograph with unknown etiology.

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(2):189-190. A 5-month-old boy was transferred to our tertiary care center from a community hospital for workup of a unilateral pleural effusion. He had a history of ...

Thoracentesis revealed transudative fluid. Two-dimensional echocardiography performed at her first visit showed ejection fraction 80% with diastolic failure. Albumin was low (2.2 g/dL), and B type ...