Lung Unit

Anti-Tobacco Programme

Pulmonologists

Thoracentesis

This test enables the extraction of pleural fluids for diagnostic purposes or it can be used for treatment (for example, pleural effusion in patients with renal failure who do not respond to medication or dialysis, or patients with malignant lung diseases).

Normally, the pleural cavity contains a very small quantity of liquid, and this procedure is performed in order to drain the liquid found in the space between the outer lining of the lungs (pleura) and the chest wall.

How is it carried out?

The extraction is carried out under local anaesthetic, and a needle which pierces the skin is used to collect the liquid. This liquid can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis (pleural liquid analysis).

The aqueous material extracted is subsequently analysed in a laboratory.