Ultrasound guided drainage of pleural fluid.

Ultrasound guided drainage has been reported as a highly successful drainage procedure. Computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy also have been cited as favorable imaging modalities for the treatment of pleural effusion. With its extreme sensitivity to fluid collections and rapid and accurate localization of fluid, real-time ultrasound has become the primary imaging modality for the interventional drainage of pleural fluid. This is a retrospective study of patients with radiographically suspected pleural effusion, using ultrasonic scanning for possible drainage. A special bedside drainage technique in critically ill patients also is described.