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Pleural Tapping

Pleural tapping, also known as thoracentesis, is a medical procedure used to remove fluid from the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. It is both diagnostic (to analyze pleural fluid) and therapeutic (to relieve symptoms such as breathlessness caused by fluid buildup).

It is commonly performed under local anesthesia, often with the help of ultrasound guidance for safety and accuracy.

Indications

Diagnostic Purposes

• Evaluate the cause of pleural effusion
• Suspected infections (e.g., TB, pneumonia)
• Suspected malignancy
• Heart failure, renal or liver disease-related effusions

Therapeutic Purposes

• Relieve breathlessness due to large effusion
• Remove large volumes of fluid in cases of massive effusion