Thoracentesis

Pleural Tap

How To Prepare

You will be asked to sign a consent form before a thoracentesis. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this procedure, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?).

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking any medicines.
• Have allergies to any medicines, including anesthetics.
• Have any bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
• Are or might be pregnant.

Also, certain conditions may increase the difficulty of thoracentesis. Let your doctor know if you have:

• Had lung surgery. The scarring from the first procedure may make it difficult to do this procedure.
• A long-term (chronic), irreversible lung disease, such as emphysema.

A chest X-ray is usually done before the procedure. Your doctor may order certain blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and bleeding factors, before your procedure.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: March 10, 2009
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
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