[Ultrasound-guided aspiration of pleural fluid]

We review the outcome of guided, percutaneous, catheter drainage of pleural collections in 102 patients over a 2-year period. In 87% diagnostic aspiration of small or loculated collections was performed. Drainage of malignant and nonmalignant effusions in high-risk patients, or after failure of drainage without imaging guidance, was performed in 13%. All aspirations were successful and the only complication was a small pneumothorax in a single patient. If the collection was a small pneumothorax in a single patient. If the collections were large and easy to aspirate, we marked the best location for aspiration on the skin and sent the patient back to the ward for aspiration. We conclude that the use of sonography increases the proportion of successful drainage of small pleural collections and results in few complications.