Ultrasound-Assisted and Ultrasound-Guided Thoracentesis: An Educational Review
Andrea Boccatonda,
Chiara Baldini,
Davide Rampoldi,
Giacomo Romani,
Antonio Corvino,
Giulio Cocco,
Damiano D’Ardes,
Orlando Catalano,
Luigi Vetrugno,
Cosima Schiavone,
Fabio Piscaglia,
Carla Serra
Affiliations
Andrea Boccatonda
Interventional, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasound Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant’Orsola Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Movement Sciences and Wellbeing Department, University of Naples Parthenope, 80133 Napoli, Italy
Giulio Cocco
Unit of Ultrasound in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Damiano D’Ardes
Institute of “Clinica Medica”, Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Orlando Catalano
Radiology Unit, Istituto Diagnostico Varelli, 80126 Naples, Italy
Luigi Vetrugno
Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Cosima Schiavone
Unit of Ultrasound in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Fabio Piscaglia
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Carla Serra
Interventional, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasound Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant’Orsola Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Thoracentesis is one of the most important invasive procedures in the clinical setting. Particularly, thoracentesis can be relevant in the evaluation of a new diagnosed pleural effusion, thus allowing for the collection of pleural fluid so that laboratory tests essential to establish a diagnosis can be performed. Furthermore, thoracentesis is a maneuver that can have therapeutic and palliative purposes. Historically, the procedure was performed based on a physical examination. In recent years, the role of ultrasound has been established as a valuable tool for assistance and guidance in the thoracentesis procedure. The use of ultrasound increases success rates and significantly reduces complications. The aim of this educational review is to provide a detailed and sequential examination of the procedure, focusing on the two main modalities, the ultrasound-assisted and ultrasound-guided form.
