Thoracentesis treatment for Mesothelioma symptoms reduces pressure on the chest and lungs and improves the Mesothelioma patient's breathing ability.
A Thoracentesis is a surgical, diagnostic procedure used to remove fluid accumulation in the lungs of Mesothelioma patients using a thin needle. The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis. A local anesthetic is injected into the skin until the needle reaches pleural fluid build up. The presence of an excess of fluid in the lungs is called a pleural effusion. A Thoracentesis for a Mesothelioma patient is usually followed by a chest X-ray to verify the fluid removal.
Mesothelioma Thoracentesis Treatment
Thoracentesis is a safe and painless surgical procedure that removes fluid build-up. Examination of the fluid in the pleural can help physicians determine the cause of the fluid build-up. A small amount of fluid usually is present between the pleural layers surrounding the lungs. This fluid build up produced by pleural cells is a lubricant that helps the pleura to move smoothly against the chest walls and internal organs of the body.
There are two types of fluid build-up in pleural effusion: Exudative fluid and Transudative fluid.
The exudative fluid build up is cloudy, like in color and contains many different proteins and cells.
The transudative fluid build up is the clear fluid that is present between the pleural layers.
Doctors are careful not to drain the fluid build up too quickly because a rapid fluid removal can cause unusually low blood pressure and fluid build up.
Fluid build up is drained slowly through a tube that is inserted with a needle and is collected into a container to be examined.
Thoracentesis is a relatively safe and painless procedure that removes the fluid build-up of a pleural effusion.