Thoracentesis.
Use of the Intracath technique for thoracentesis has been described previously. However, the addition of side holes to the catheter and water seal drainage have improved the safety and facility of thoracentesis allowing complete evacuation of the pleural space. This method has proved safe and useful for thoracentesis and occasional chemical pleurodesis in our clinical applications over the past six years.
D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery*; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*