TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 18. Ultrasound for Thoracentesis A1 - Redman, Richard C. A1 - Shofer, Scott L. A1 - Wahidi, Momen M. A2 - Carmody, Kristin A. A2 - Moore, Christopher L. A2 - Feller-Kopman, David Y1 - 2011 N1 - T2 - Handbook of Critical Care and Emergency Ultrasound AB - Pleural effusion is a commonly encountered condition, which may arise as a consequence of a number of disease states including malignancy, infections, and inflammatory conditions. Patients may develop complaints of shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, or pleuritic chest pain as part of their initial presentation. Sampling and drainage of pleural effusions is important to adequately diagnose the patient's condition and to alleviate their respiratory symptoms. Thoracic ultrasound is an invaluable tool for characterizing the quantity and quality of the effusion as well as facilitating safe sampling or drainage of the fluid. Thoracic ultrasound is also useful for the rapid visualization of the parietal and visceral pleural surfaces, evaluation for pneumothorax, and to some extent the evaluation of the lung parenchyma. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56301743 ER -