Thoracentesis

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Pleural fluid aspiration; Pleural tap

• Bleeding
• Fluid buildup in the lungs
• Infection
• Pneumothorax
• Pulmonary edema
• Respiratory distress

A chest x-ray is often done after the procedure to detect possible complications.

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 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).

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