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 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 Generally it is when a needle is inserted into a space and fluid (air or liquid) is withdrawn.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)
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.
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.