Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Thoracentesis

To make breathing easier, a treatment known as thoracentesis removes extra fluid from the pleural space (the area between your lungs and chest wall).Unless you have a lot of fluid in your pleural area, the treatment is done in a doctor's office or hospital and typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Most patients are asked to sit calmly on a chair or bed's edge during the treatment, with their heads and arms resting on a table. Your doctor will inject numbing medication after cleansing the skin around the place where the needle will be implanted.

The pleural space is then reached by sticking a needle between your ribs. You might feel like coughing or experience chest pain as your doctor removes extra fluid from the area around your lungs. After the needle is taken out, the area will be bandaged lightly. The fluid that was taken from your chest during the surgery will be sent for laboratory testing to assist discover the cause of your pleural effusion and to help you plan your therapy. To check for lung issues, your doctor can recommend a chest X-ray. Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), discomfort, haemorrhage, bruising, or infection are all potential side effects of thoracentesis.