Complications following ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively register the number and type of complications following ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis, and to evaluate the need for routine chest X-ray after the procedure.


METHODS
Complications were retrospectively registered from the radiological and clinical reports of 371 consecutive patients who had undergone thoracocentesis with a total of 711 procedures.


RESULTS
The mean volume evacuated was 823ml (range 0-3600ml). Twenty (2.8%) pneumothoraces were found after 711 thoracocenteses, but in no case was chest tube drainage necessary. Hemoptysis occurred in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis was found to be a safe procedure. Based on these results, no reason was found to introduce an upper limit of the amount of fluid drained in one session. Routine follow-up chest X-ray is not justified in the absence of clinical symptoms.
Mynarek
G
G
Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. georg.mynarek@rikshospitalet.no
Brabrand
K
K
Jakobsen
J A
JA
Kolbenstvedt
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D035423:Thoracic Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography