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A member asked:
What is the definition or description of: thoracentesis?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Remove pleural fluid: When a patient has fluid around the lungs, sometimes we need to find out what caused it, other times we want to remove the fluid so the patient can breath easier. It takes place under sterile conditions by placing a needle into the chest wall from the back and connecting the needle with a catheter to a suction bottle which collects the fluid. Fluid is then sent for testing.
Answered 5/21/2015
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Answer: In short it means drainage of fluid from the chest cavity.
Answered 3/19/2016
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How come after my thoracentesis was done I woke up with pain?
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If you have thoracentesis done, what signs will show you that it was an effective procedure?
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