Thoracentesis
- Attach a size 18 gage 1.5 inch long needle to a 50 cc syringe.
- Once you have infiltrated with anesthetic palpation of ribs and interspaces will
be difficult. Trust your initial puncture site. If you you go perpendicular to the initial
puncture site, you will encounter the middle of the rib.
- Aim for the middle of the rib and inch your way to the upper margin.
- Enter the pleural space. A sudden
give will indicate that you've pierced the
parietal pleura.
- Aspirate 50 cc's of fluid and
withdraw the syringe.