•  
  •  

Thoracentesis

Test Overview

Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall called the pleural space. It is done with a needle (and sometimes a plastic catheter) inserted through the chest wall. Ultrasound pictures are often used to guide the placement of the needle. This pleural fluid may be sent to a lab to determine what may be causing the fluid to build up in the pleural space.

Normally only a small amount of pleural fluid is present in the pleural space. A buildup of excess pleural fluid (pleural effusion) may be caused by many conditions, such as infection, inflammation, heart failure, or cancer. If a large amount of fluid is present, it may be hard to breathe. Fluid inside the pleural space may be found during a physical examination and is usually confirmed by a chest X-ray.

Why It Is Done

Thoracentesis may be done to:

  • Find the cause of excess pleural fluid (pleural effusion).
  • Relieve shortness of breath and pain caused by a pleural effusion.

How To Prepare

You will be asked to sign a consent form before a thoracentesis. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this procedure, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

Tell your doctor if you:

  • Are taking any medicines.
  • Have allergies to any medicines, including anesthetics.
  • Have any bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
  • Are or might be pregnant.

Also, certain conditions may increase the difficulty of thoracentesis. Let your doctor know if you have:

  • Had lung surgery. The scarring from the first procedure may make it difficult to do this procedure.
  • A long-term (chronic), irreversible lung disease, such as emphysema.

A chest X-ray is usually done before the procedure. Your doctor may order certain blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and clotting factors, before your procedure.

How It Is Done

This procedure may be done in your doctor's office, in the X-ray department of a hospital, in an emergency room, or at your bedside in the hospital. Your doctor may have a nurse assist with the procedure.

You will need to take off all or most of your clothes (you may be allowed to keep on your underwear if it does not interfere with the procedure). You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the procedure. During the procedure, you will be seated but leaning forward on a padded bedside table. If your test is done in the X-ray department, X-rays or an ultrasound may be used to confirm the location of fluid in your chest.

The needle site between your ribs will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic in your chest wall so you won't feel any pain when the longer needle that withdraws the fluid is inserted. Once the area is numb, your doctor will insert the needle to where the fluid has collected (pleural space). You may feel some mild pain or pressure as the needle enters the pleural space.

A syringe or a small tube attached to a vacuum bottle is used to remove the pleural fluid. Your doctor will collect fluid to send to the lab. Once the fluid is removed, the needle or small tube is removed and a bandage is put on the site.

An X-ray may be taken right after the procedure to make sure that no complications have occurred. If more pleural fluid collects and needs to be removed, another thoracentesis may be done later.

This procedure takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

How It Feels

When you are given the shot to numb your skin at the needle site, you will feel a sharp stinging or burning sensation that lasts a few seconds. When the needle is inserted into the chest wall, you may again feel a sharp pain for a few seconds.

When the pleural fluid is removed, you may feel a sense of "pulling" or pressure in your chest. Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel faint or if you have any shortness of breath, chest pain, or uncontrollable cough.

If a large amount of pleural fluid was removed during the procedure, you will probably be able to breathe more easily.

Risks

Thoracentesis is generally a safe procedure. A chest X-ray may be done right after the procedure to make sure that no complications have occurred. Complications may include:

  • A partial collapse of the lung (pneumothorax). This may occur if the needle used to remove the pleural fluid punctures the lung, allowing air to flow into the pleural space.
  • Pulmonary edema, which may occur if a large amount of fluid is removed.
  • Infection and bleeding.
  • Damage to the liver or spleen, though this is rare.

Results

Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall called the pleural space. Results from a lab are usually available in 1 to 2 working days. If the fluid is being tested for an infection, such as tuberculosis, results may not be available for several weeks.

Thoracentesis
Normal:

A small amount of clear, colorless, or pale yellow pleural fluid, usually less than 20 mL (0.7 fl oz), is normally present. No infection, inflammation, or cancer is found.
Abnormal:

A large amount of pleural fluid is present.

Fluid may be labeled as either a transudate or an exudate. The difference between these two types of fluid has to do with the amount of protein and other substances found in the fluid.

  • A transudate has a low white blood cell (WBC) count, a low lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme level, and a low protein level. A transudate may be caused by cirrhosis, heart failure, or nephrotic syndrome.
  • An exudate may be caused by diseases, such as infection (pneumonia), chest injury, cancer, pancreatitis, autoimmune disease, or a pulmonary embolism (PE).
    • If an infection is present, the exudate will have a high WBC count, a high LDH enzyme level, a high protein level, and bacteria or other infectious organisms.
    • If cancer is present, the exudate will have a high WBC count (often lymphocytes), a high LDH enzyme level, and a high protein level. Abnormal cells may also be present.
    • If a pulmonary embolism is present, the exudate will have a low WBC count and large numbers of red blood cells.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

What To Think About

  • Thoracentesis may not be done for people who have:
  • A pleural biopsy may be done at the same time as a thoracentesis to collect a sample of tissue from the inner lining of the chest wall.
  • Thoracentesis may be done before another procedure called pleurodesis. During this procedure, a chemical or medicine (talc or doxycycline) is put into the pleural space, which triggers an inflammatory reaction over the surface of the lung and inside the pleural space. This in turn causes the layer of pleura attached to the lung to stick to the layer of pleura on the inside of the chest wall. This takes away the space between the pleura and prevents or reduces the collection of more pleural fluid. Pleurodesis may be done when fluid collects in the chest more than one time and the reason for the fluid buildup cannot be corrected.

References

Other Works Consulted

  • Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
  • Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  • Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology
Last Revised March 18, 2011

Last Revised: March 18, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.