- Air in the space between the lung covering (pleural space) that causes the lung to collapse (pneumothorax)
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Liver or spleen injury (rare)
What is the complications of thoracentesis?
Although generally considered a low-risk intervention, complications of thoracentesis, including
pneumothorax, bleeding (puncture site bleeding, chest wall hematoma, and hemothorax)
, and re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE), can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost [2,3].
What is the most common complication from thoracentesis?
In this article, we review the risk factors and prevention of the most common complications of thoracentesis including
pneumothorax
, bleeding (chest wall hematoma and hemothorax), and re-expansion pulmonary edema.
What is one of the most common iatrogenic complications from a thoracentesis?
The most common complications of the procedure include
pneumothorax, bleeding includinghemothorax, and re-expansion pulmonary edema
[1] .
What should I monitor after thoracentesis?
Monitor the
patient’s vital signs, oxygen saturation, and breath sounds
for several hours following the procedure. Check the dressing for drainage or bleeding. Report any abnormal findings to the health care provider. Make sure that the patient has a chest X-ray after the procedure, if ordered.
Can thoracentesis cause death?
The short-term mortality in patients undergoing thoracentesis for pleural effusion is high, with
over 20% of patients dying within 30- days
.
How long can you live with pleural effusion?
Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusions (MPE) have life expectancies ranging from
3 to 12 months
, depending on the type and stage of their primary malignancy.
How many times can a thoracentesis be done?
Depending on the rate of fluid reaccumulation and symptoms, patients are required to undergo thoracentesis from
every few days to every 2–3 weeks.
How many times can you drain a pleural effusion?
After catheter insertion, the pleural space should be drained
three times a week
. No more than 1,000 mL of fluid should be removed at a time—or less if drainage causes chest pain or cough secondary to trapped lung (see below).
What should I do after thoracentesis?
Take it easy for 48 hours after the procedure. Don’t
do anything active until your doctor
says it’s OK. Don’t do strenuous activities, such as lifting, until your doctor says it’s OK. You will have a small bandage over the puncture site.
How long does it take to recover from thoracentesis?
Your chest may be sore where the doctor put the needle or catheter into your skin (the procedure site). This usually gets better
after a day or two
. You can go back to work or your normal activities as soon as you feel up to it.
How much fluid is usually removed during a thoracentesis?
While there is no consensus amount for a diagnostic thoracentesis, a minimum of 20 mL would be enough for basic analysis and culture. Most of these procedures remove
less than 100 mL of fluid
.
What are the complications of pleural effusion?
- Lung damage.
- Infection that turns into an abscess, called an empyema.
- Air in the chest cavity (pneumothorax) after drainage of the effusion.
- Pleural thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung)
Can fluid come back after thoracentesis?
You may go back to your normal activities after the procedure
. The fluid taken from your pleural cavity may be sent to the lab for testing.
What is the best position for thoracentesis?
- Best done with the patient sitting upright and leaning slightly forward with arms supported.
- Recumbent or supine thoracentesis (eg, in a ventilated patient) is possible but best done using ultrasonography or CT to guide procedure.
How do you interpret pleural fluid?
- The ratio of pleural fluid to serum protein is greater than 0.5.
- The ratio of pleural fluid to serum LDH is greater than 0.6.
- The pleural fluid LDH value is greater than two-thirds of the upper limit of the normal serum value.
