title: Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis.
abstract: Pleural effusions are an extremely common problem affecting approximately 1.5 million people in the United States each year. Over the last several years, the use of portable ultrasound machines has greatly enhanced the evaluation and management of patients with pleural disease. This article will review the relevant literature supporting the use of ultrasound for the evaluation of patients with pleural disease and address some practical practice management issues regarding ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Pulmonology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, One Deaconess Rd, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02215, USA. dfellerk@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feller-Kopman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014463:Ultrasonography