Pleural Tapping

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Pleural Tapping

Chest physician in malad

What Is Pleural Tapping?

Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest. Normally, very little fluid is present in this space. An accumulation of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura is called a pleural effusion.

Procedure

Your thoracentesis will be performed in a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. The procedure generally takes 15 minutes and includes these steps:

  • You will remove your clothing and dress in a patient gown.
  • You will have an imaging test, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan of the chest to locate the fluid and see how much fluid is around the lungs.
  • You will sit on a chair or edge of an examination table with your arms resting on a table. You must remain very still during the entire procedure. Do not cough or breathe very deeply.
  • Your doctor will clean the procedure area on your back with an antiseptic and place sterile drapes on your back to maintain a sterile procedure.
  • Your doctor will inject a small amount of local anesthetic under the skin to numb the area. In some cases, you may receive a sedative to help you relax.
  • Your doctor will insert a needle or tube into your back between the ribs and into the pleural space around the lungs. Sometimes doctors use ultrasound imaging to help place the needle in the right place.
  • Your doctor will remove pleural fluid for testing and drain excessive pleural fluid as needed.
  • Your doctor will remove the needle, bandage the area, and send the fluid to the laboratory for testing.
  • Your care team will watch your vital signs closely for several hours after your thoracentesis. You will have a chest X-ray to look for complications, such as a collapsed lung (pneumothorax).
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