Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
thoracentesis
noun
/ˌθɔːrə.ˌsɛnˈtiːsɪs/
Definition
Thoracentesis is a medical procedure that involves the insertion of a needle into the pleural space to remove fluid or air.
Examples
- The doctor performed a thoracentesis to alleviate the patient’s breathing difficulty.
- After the thoracentesis, the lab tests showed an infection in the fluid.
- Thoracentesis is often done in cases of pleural effusion.
Meaning
The term thoracentesis comes from ‘thora’ meaning chest and ‘centesis’ referring to a surgical puncture to remove fluid.
Synonyms
- pleural tap
- chest tap
- thoracic puncture
