Placement of a Thoracentesis Needle

Placement of a thoracentesis needle

In thoracentesis, the doctor removes fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall (the pleural cavity). The doctor inserts a needle (and sometimes a plastic catheter) through the chest wall to remove and examine the fluid.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David C. Stuesse, MD - Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery

Current as ofMarch 25, 2017

Current as of: March 25, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & David C. Stuesse, MD - Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery