[Real-time controlled pleural puncture in surgical intensive care patients]

The sensitivity of ultrasonographic diagnosis of pleural fluid accumulations and the value of ultrasonography guided thoracentesis were studied prospectively. 110 patients were investigated after abdominal operation and chest trauma. Most investigations were performed in a half sitting position. Pleural fluid of clinical relevance diagnosed by real time ultrasonography was treated by thoracentesis under ultrasonographic guidance in 38 cases. The amount of aspirated fluid ranged from 150 ml to 1350 ml. Sensitivity of the method was 97.1%, complication rate was 2.6%. From our view ultrasonography guided thoracentesis represents the method of choice in critically ill and immobile patients.