A new instrument for thoracentesis.

Thoracentesis is a commonly performed procedure. Standard techniques have been generally acceptable, but there are occasional serious complications requiring additional treatment and operative procedures. Attempts at near complete aspiration of fluid are often unsuccessful and time consuming with the currently used methods. The change from a sharp needle technique to an intravenous catheter technique has been an improvement, but creates the additional difficulty of briefly exposing the pleural space to atmospheric pressure. Also, blunt end catheters without sideholes may produce incomplete evacuation of fluid, and some intravenous catheters have been cut off and retained in the pleural space. The new instrument described has produced excellent results in a small clinical series. It has effectively overcome the disadvantages of both the standard needle technique and the more current intravenous catheter techniques. The time spent on thoracentesis has been considerably shortened, an advantage for both the patient and the physician alike.