What Is a Thoracentesis (Pleurocentesis)?
A thoracentesis is a minimally invasive procedure. It removes fluid buildup from the pleural cavity using a hollow needle. Doctors also call the procedure a pleurocentesis.
When someone has mesothelioma, fluid can build up between the two tissue layers covering the lungs. This fluid can lead to cough, chest pain, discomfort and breathing difficulties.
This condition is called a pleural effusion. A small amount of fluid in the pleura is healthy, but excess fluid buildup puts pressure on one or both lungs. To help, doctors use thoracentesis to remove the extra fluid and offer relief.
Thoracentesis Facts
- Involves removing pleural fluid buildup through a hollow needle.
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Used to treat and help diagnose the cause of pleural effusions.
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Less permanent solution than pleurodesis procedure or catheter insertion.
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Less invasive palliative treatment option for late-stage mesothelioma patients.
Thoracentesis has many names. Doctors call it pleural fluid aspiration, pleural tap, pleurocentesis and thoracocentesis.
A chest X-ray can reveal a pleural effusion, but usually not the reason for it. Many different diseases can cause pleural effusions. Doctors examine the fluid collected through thoracentesis to identify the root cause.
Thoracentesis testing is not reliable enough to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. Diagnosis depends on analyzing a cancer tissue sample collected through a biopsy.
Survivor Story
Jim Madaris underwent an extensive 14-hour abdominal surgery and HIPEC procedure for peritoneal mesothelioma when he was diagnosed in 2013. The second surgery followed repeated fluid buildup around his lungs after the tumor cells migrated into the thoracic cavity. Doctors performed a thoracentesis first to drain the fluid, and then a pleurodesis to eliminate the space between the lungs and the chest wall.
Read Jim’s Story
Palliative Thoracentesis Versus Other Treatments
Palliative therapies aim to relieve painful symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life. Removing excess pleural fluid alleviates chest pain and shortness of breath. It reduces pressure on the chest and lungs and provides more space for the lungs to expand during respiration.
Thoracentesis has become less common as a mesothelioma treatment compared to other procedures:
- Many mesothelioma patients benefit more from pleurodesis, which drains excess fluid and then seals the pleural space to prevent fluid from building up there again.
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Another option is for doctors to insert a catheter, such as an indwelling pleural catheter, or IPC, that continuously drains the pleura so the patient does not have to undergo repeated thoracentesis procedures.
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Mesothelioma patients who have early-stage cancer and are in otherwise good health may be eligible for a more aggressive surgery that removes the diseased part of the pleura altogether.
Thoracentesis is tolerated well at all cancer stages. The procedure remains a tried-and-true technique for alleviating pleural effusion.
A 2021 study recorded the outcomes of 16 patients who underwent thoracentesis. After the procedure, some patients improved their breathlessness, chest pain and cough. They reported feeling and sleeping better, but fatigue and poor appetite remained. Participants were more active after aspiration, and many felt the procedure was worthwhile.
Surgical Consultation for Thoracentesis
Even though thoracentesis is considered a minimally invasive procedure, it requires a surgical consultation. Patients meet with the surgeon during the consultation to learn more about the procedure and determine their eligibility. The surgeon thoroughly reviews their medical records, imaging scans and biopsy results to determine eligibility.
Before surgery, it’s essential to meet with the surgeon. This meeting is possible in person or through video chat. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and get to know the surgeon better. They will also explain what you need to do before the procedure, how it will work and what recovery looks like afterward.
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What to Expect During a Thoracentesis Procedure
The patient may remain seated throughout the procedure or lie down if necessary. The doctor sterilizes the skin around the insertion point and provides local anesthesia to numb the area.
Next, the doctor inserts a long, hollow needle called a cannula between the ribs, guided by ultrasound or CT scan images. The patient may experience a feeling of pressure, but the anesthesia usually blocks any pain. Once the needle is in, the doctor drains the pleural effusion until some or all of the fluid is removed, depending on the goal of the thoracentesis. The entire process takes about 15 minutes.
The doctor usually sends the extracted fluid to a lab for analysis (pleural cytology). After removing the needle and dressing the wound, the doctor often orders a chest X-ray as well to confirm fluid levels are minimal and to ensure there is no sign of a collapsed lung.
Risks and Complications
While complications are rare, they can occur. The most common serious complication of the procedure is a collapsed lung, also known as pneumothorax. This complication can happen if the doctor accidentally punctures the lung or disrupts an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity.
Other Possible Complications
- Bleeding (generally from injury to an intercostal vessel)
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Pain
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Infection
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Diaphragm injury
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Laceration to lung, spleen or liver
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Tumor seeding (invasion of cancer cells along the needle track)
Complications are more common among certain groups of patients. Patients with a history of lung surgery face more significant risks, as do patients with chronic, irreversible lung diseases such as asthma or emphysema. Patients with any condition that affects normal blood clotting may also face a higher risk of complications.
One 2010 study identified patients who would benefit most from thoracentesis while experiencing the lowest risk of complications. Out of 446 patients involved in the study, including some malignant mesothelioma patients, the incidence of pneumothorax was significantly lower in patients whose procedure included guidance by ultrasound.
Another factor that increased the risk of complications in participants was the presence of symptoms of their primary disease. Thoracentesis led to complications for only one asymptomatic patient (out of 328 total), yet 15 of 118 symptomatic patients developed complications.
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