Complications Following Ultrasound-Guided Thoracocentesis

Purpose: 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. Material and Methods: Complications were retrospectively registered from the radiological and clinical reports...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta radiologica (1987) 2004-08, Vol.45 (5), p.519-522
Main Authors: Mynarek, G., Brabrand, K., Jakobsen, J. Å., Kolbenstvedt, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Hemoptysis - etiology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Paracentesis - adverse effects
Paracentesis - methods
Pneumology
Pneumothorax - etiology
Postoperative Complications
Radiography, Thoracic
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
Retrospective Studies
Thoracic Cavity - surgery
Ultrasonography
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Summary:Purpose: 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. Material and 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 823 ml (range 0-3600 ml). Twenty (2.8%) pneumothoraces were found after 711 thoracocenteses, but in no case was chest tube drainage necessary. Hemoptysis occurred in one patient. Conclusion: 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.
ISSN:0284-1851
1600-0455
DOI:10.1080/02841850410005804