Table of Contents
- Overview
- Results
- Risks
- Prevention
The risks of thoracentesis are:
- Collapse of the lung (pneumothorax)
- Excessive loss of blood
- Fluid re-accumulation
- Infection
Pulmonary edema - Respiratory distress
Serious complications are uncommon.
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Pleural fluid analysis Prevention
Review Date: 10/14/2009
Reviewed By: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP, Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care,
and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New
Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also
reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
