Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure
thoracentesis
[ thawr-uh-sen-tee-sis, thohr- ]
Subclass of:
Paracentesis
Etymology:
Greek thorax = chest + kentesis = puncture
Definitions related to thoracentesis:
-
Aspiration of fluid or air from the THORACIC CAVITY. It is coupled sometimes with the administration of drugs into the PLEURAL CAVITY.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Removal of fluid from the pleural cavity through a needle inserted between the ribs.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
The removal of excess fluid via needle puncture from the thoracic cavity.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
Thoracentesis is the placement of a needle through the skin into the chest cavity to withdraw a sample of fluid.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
-
Background Thoracentesis (thoracocentesis) is a core procedural skill for hospitalists, critical care physicians, and emergency physicians. With proper training in both thoracentesis itself and the use of bedside ultrasonography, providers can perform this procedure safely and successfully.WebMD, 2019
-
Thoracentesis, medical procedure used in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the pleural space--the cavity between the lungs and the thoracic cage. It is most often used to diagnose the cause of pleural effusion, the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. Pleural...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> T
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.