Removing fluid from a lung cavity, typically by needle aspiration.
Aspiration and drainage of pleural fluid is termed as Thoracentesis. 'Thoraco-' refers to the thorax (chest), and '-centesis' is the process of aspirating a substance from an enclosed/sealed area. It can also be called a pleurocentesis, needle thoracotomy, pleural aspiration, or pleural tap.
The medical term for surgical puncture of the pleural cavity to remove fluid is thoracentesis. This procedure involves inserting a needle through the chest wall to drain excess fluid from around the lungs for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
The suffix "-centesis" is from the Greek meaning "to prick" or in modern day "surgical puncture". Generally it is when a needle is inserted into a space and fluid (air or liquid) is withdrawn. Examples include: Amniocentesis (pregnancy: bag of waters) Abdominocentesis (sample comes from belly) Arthrocentesis (from around a joint)
Aspiration and drainage of pleural fluid is termed as Thoracentesis. 'thoraco' refers to the thorax (chest), and 'centesis' is the process of aspirating a substance from an enclosed/sealed area. It can also be called a pleurocentesis, needle thoracotomy, pleural aspiration, or pleural tap.