BACKGROUND Pleural effusions occur in patients with hematologic malignancies, particularly during periods of hospitalization. Thoracentesis is often performed to diagnose infection and to exclude the presence of complicated parapneumonic effusions. The efficacy and safety of thoracentesis in this setting has not been well-studied. DESIGN Retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients wit...

STUDY OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to determine the incidence of complications from thoracentesis performed under ultrasound guidance by interventional radiologists in a tertiary referral teaching hospital; (2) to evaluate the incidence of vasovagal events without the use of atropine prior to thoracentesis; and (3) to evaluate patient or radiographic factors that ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine if intrapleural administration of methylprednisolone acetate (MA) after therapeutic thoracentesis for symptomatic malignant pleural effusion improved time to repeat thoracentesis for symptom control, quality of life (QOL), and dyspnea. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING A tertiary care cancer treatment center in Edmonton, AB, Can...

IMPORTANCE Thoracentesis is performed to identify the cause of a pleural effusion. Although generally safe, thoracentesis may be complicated by transient hypoxemia, bleeding, patient discomfort, reexpansion pulmonary edema, and pneumothorax. OBJECTIVE To identify the best means for differentiating between transudative and exudative effusions and also to identify thoracentesis techniques for m...

Case Report An 89-year-old gentleman with a past medical history significant for severe aortic stenosis and atrial fibrillation on warfarin therapy presented to the Providence VA Medical Center for placement of a right-sided chest tube. Several weeks prior, the patient had fallen at home and developed a hemothorax after sustaining several rib fractures. At the time of his fall, he had undergone...

Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare complication resulting from rapid emptying of air or liquid from the pleural cavity performed by either thoracentesis or chest drainage. Despite being infrequent, mortality may occur in up to 20% of cases and is attributed to the abrupt reduction in pleural pressure, especially as a result of extensive pneumothorax drainage or when there is long-term pulmon...