• Terrance W Barnes, Timothy I Morgenthaler, Eric J Olson, Gina K Hesley, Paul A Decker, and Jay H Ryu.
• Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Desk East 18, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
• J Clin Ultrasound. 2005 Dec 1;33(9):442-6.

PurposeTo assess whether thoracenteses performed with sonographic guidance are associated with a lower rater of pneumothorax and tube thoracostomy than those performed without sonographic guidance.MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of 523 subjects undergoing their initial diagnostic thoracentesis at our institution from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002. We excluded 73 subjects in whom no chest imaging had been performed within 5 days of thoracentesis or who had pre-existing chronic hydropneumothorax.ResultsOf the 450 thoracenteses performed, 305 (67.8%) were performed with sonographic guidance and 145 (32.2%) were performed without. On postthoracentesis imaging in all subjects, 30 pneumothoraces (6.7%) were found (23 inpatients, 7 out-patients). Eight patients required a tube thoracostomy for their pneumothorax. Pneumothorax occurred in 15 of 305 procedures (4.9%) performed with sonographic guidance and 15 of 145 procedures (10.3%) performed without (p < 0.05). Tube thoracostomy was performed in 0.7% of patients whose thoracentesis was performed with sonographic guidance and in 4.1% in those that were not (p < 0.05). We found no correlation between pneumothorax after thoracentesis and age, inpatient status, loculation of effusion, or volume of pleural fluid removed.ConclusionsThe routine use of sonography during diagnostic thoracentesis is associated with a reduced rate of pneumothorax and tube thoracostomy.2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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