Pleurodesis | Pleural Tapping
Pleurodesis
Pleurodesis is a procedure that uses medicine to adhere your lung to your chest wall. It seals up the space between the outer lining of your lung and chest wall ( pleural cavity) to prevent fluid or air from continually building up around your lungs.

Pleural Tapping Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (plera) and the wall of the chest. Normally, very little fluid is present in this space. An accumulation of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura is called a pleural effusion. Alternative names Pleural fluid aspiration; Pleural tap; Thoracentesis
How to test is performed
A small area of skin on your chest or back is washed with a sterilizing solution. Some numbing medicine ( local anesthetic) is injected in this area. A needle is then placed through the skin of the chest wall into the space around the lungs called pleural space. Fluid is withdrawn and collected and may be sent to a laboratory for analysis( pleural fluid analyisis).
How to prepare for the Test
  • No special preparation is needed before the procedure. A chest x-ray is may be performed before and after the test.
  • Do not cough, breathe deeply, or more during the test to avoid injury to the lung.
How the test will feel
You will on a bed or sit n the edge of a chair or bed with your head and arms resting on a table. The skin around the procedure side is disinfected and the area is draped. A local anesthetic is injected into the skin. The thoracentesis needle above the rib into the pleural space. There will be a stinging sensation when the local anesthetic is injected, and you may feel a sensation of pressure when the needle is inserted into the pleural space.
Inform your health care provider if you develop shortness of breath or chest pain.
Why the Test is performed
The analysis of the fluid will indicate possible causes of pleural effusion such as infection, cancer, heart failure, cirrhosis, and kidney disease. If infection is suspected , a culture of the fluid is often done to determine whether microorganisms are present and if so, to identify them.
  • Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include the following:
  • Pneumonia
  • Hemothorax
  • Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Thyroid embolism
  • Collagen vascular disease
  • Asbestos-ralated pleural effusion
  • Drug reactions
  • Risks
  • Pneumothorax (collapse of the lung)
  • Fluid re-accumulation
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Respiratory distress
  • Considerations
  • A chest x-ray is often done after the procedure to detect possible complications.