title: Percutaneous drainage of thoracic collections.
abstract: Various infected and noninfected thoracic fluid collections may be diagnosed and treated by interventional radiologic techniques. The core procedure of ultrasound-guided thoracentesis has been expanded to allow catheter drainage of empyema, bronchopleural fistula, abscesses in the lung, mediastinum, pericardium, and infected tumors. Tailored use of guidance methods permits effective evacuation of most of these abscesses and noninfected collections. This paper details the authors' approach to each of these entities while highlighting the results and expected pitfalls of these techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0709, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: vanSonnenberg
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wittich
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Goodacre
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zwischenberger
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011677:Punctures; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography