BACKGROUND Usually, pleural fluid (PF) pH is measured immediately following thoracentesis, and if there is any delay in the measurement, the PF sample is preserved on ice. OBJECTIVE To determine if PF pH changes significantly at room temperature during the first hour following thoracentesis. DESIGN Prospective, self-controlled. SETTING Tertiary care center. PATIENTS All patients undergo...

There are only a few studies with a small sample size of patients that have compared the risks of using chest tubes versus thoracentesis in hepatic hydrothorax. It has been shown that many complications may arise secondary to chest tube placement and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this retrospective study, patients with cirrhosis were identified from the 2009 National ...

BACKGROUND Pleural effusions impact over 1.5 million people annually in the United States and cause significant morbidity. Although therapeutic thoracentesis is associated with improvement in respiratory parameters, unanswered questions remain regarding its impact. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate patient-centered outcomes, the need for additional pleural interventions, ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine if therapeutic thoracentesis is as effective as early chest tube placement or no drainage procedure in the treatment of early empyema in rabbits. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS An empyema, as evidenced by gross pleural pus and a decreased pleural fluid pH and glucose level, was induced in 49 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups: 16 underwent daily therap...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of routine thoracentesis on diagnostic assessment and therapeutic measures in patients with clinically documented pleural effusions. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective, 1-year, three-center study in medical ICU (MICU) patients with physical and radiographic evidence of pleural effusion. PATIENTS Of 1,351 patients admitted to three MICUs during the study per...