THORACENTESIS
Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid or air from around the lungs. A needle
is put through the chest wall into the pleural space. The pleural space is the thin gap
between the pleura of the lung and of the inner chest wall. The pleura is a double
layer of membranes that surrounds the lungs. Inside the space is a small amount of
fluid. The fluid prevents the pleura from rubbing together when you breathe. Excess
fluid in the pleural space is called pleural effusion. When this happens, it’s harder to
breathe because the lungs can’t inflate fully. This can cause shortness of breath and
pain. These symptoms may be worse with physical activity.
INDICATIONS
Thoracentesis may be done to find the cause of pleural effusion. It can also be done
to treat symptoms of pleural effusion by removing fluid. The fluid is then examined in
a lab.
Thoracentesis can help diagnose health problems such as:
• Congestive heart failure (CHF), the most common cause of pleural effusion
• Viral, fungal, or bacterial infections
• Cancer
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune disease
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• An area of pus in the pleural space (empyema)
• Liver failure
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Pneumonia
• Reactions to medicines
Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to advise thoracentesis.
RISKS OF THORACENTESIS
All procedures have some risks. The risks of this procedure may include:
• Air in the space between the lung covering (pleural space) that causes the
lung to collapse (pneumothorax)
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Liver or spleen injury (rare)
Your risks may vary depending on your general health and other factors. Ask your
healthcare provider which risks apply most to you. Talk about any concerns you
have.
Thoracentesis should not be done in people with certain bleeding conditions.
PREPERATIONS FOR THORACENTESIS
Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you. Ask any questions you
have. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do the
procedure. Read the form carefully. Ask questions if anything is not clear.
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
• Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• Are sensitive to or allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthetic
medicines (local and general)
• Take any medicines, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines,
vitamins, herbs, and other supplements
• Have had a bleeding disorder
• Take blood-thinning medicine (anticoagulant), aspirin, or other medicines that
affect blood clotting
Make sure to:
• Stop taking certain medicines before the procedure, if instructed by your
healthcare provider
• Plan to have someone drive you home from the hospital
• Follow any other instructions your healthcare provider gives you
You may have imaging tests before the procedure. These are done to find the
location of the fluid to be removed. You may have any of the below:
• Chest X-ray
• Chest fluoroscopy
• Ultrasound
• CT scan
What happens during thoracentesis?
You may have your procedure as an outpatient. This means you go home the same
day. Or it may be done as part of a longer stay in the hospital. The way the
procedure is done may vary. It depends on your condition and your healthcare
provider's methods. In most cases, a thoracentesis will follow this process:
1. You may be asked to remove your clothes. If so, you will be given a hospital
gown to wear. You may be asked to remove jewelry or other objects.
2. You may be given oxygen through a nasal tube or face mask. Your heart rate,
blood pressure, and breathing will be watched during the procedure.
3. You will be in a sitting position in a hospital bed. Your arms will be resting on
an over-bed table. This position helps to spread out the spaces between the
ribs, where the needle is inserted. If you are not able to sit, you may lie on
your side on the edge of the bed.
4. The skin where the needle will be put in will be cleaned with an antiseptic
solution.
5. A numbing medicine (local anesthetic) will be injected in the area.
6. When the area is numb, the healthcare provider will put a needle between the
ribs in your back. You may feel some pressure where the needle goes in.
Fluid will slowly be withdrawn into the needle.
7. You will be asked to hold still, breathe out deeply, or hold your breath at
certain times during the procedure.
8. If there is a large amount of fluid, tubing may be attached to the needle. This
will let the fluid drain more. The fluid will drain into a bottle or bag. In some
cases, a flexible tube (catheter) will be put in place of the needle and the
tubing will be attached for a day or two. You will stay in the hospital until the
catheter is removed.
9. When enough fluid has been removed, the needle will be taken out. A
bandage or dressing will be put on the area.
10. Fluid samples may be sent to a lab.
11. You may have a chest X-ray taken right after the procedure. This is to make
sure your lungs are OK.
What happens after thoracentesis?
After the procedure, your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing will be watched. The
dressing over the puncture site will be checked for bleeding or other fluid. If you had
an outpatient procedure, you will go home when your healthcare provider says it’s
OK. Someone will need to drive you home.
At home, you can go back to your normal diet and activities if instructed by your
healthcare provider. You may need to not do strenuous physical activity for a few
days.
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the below:
• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider
• Redness or swelling of the needle site
• Blood or other fluid leaking from the needle site
• Feeling short of breath
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions after the procedure.
Next steps
Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:
• The name of the test or procedure
• The reason you are having the test or procedure
• What results to expect and what they mean
• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
• What the possible side effects or complications are
• When and where you are to have the test or procedure
• Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
• What would happen if you did not have the test or procedure
• Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
• When and how will you get the results
• Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
• How much will you have to pay for the test or procedure
