Placement of a thoracentesis needle
Placement of a thoracentesis needle
Image copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com
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.
Credits
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
| Last Updated | August 17, 2007 |
| Last updated: | August 17, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
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