Aspiration of Pleural Fluid

¹ The William H. Maybury Sanatorium (Detroit Municipal Sanatorium), Northville, Michigan.

1) A change in the routine manner of positioning the patient from the vertical or sitting to the lateral recumbent method of approach is proposed.

2) The lateral recumbent position for doing a chest tap, with the fluid side dependent, has safety, completeness, speed and convenience.

3) By placing the patient in the lateral recumbent position, we elect the wide expanse of the lateral chest wall to serve as a floor to the pleural space, and, choose with greater safety an entrance point for the eye of the aspirating needle.

4) The lateral recumbent position is most useful in the treatment of the hydropneumothorax of pulmonary tuberculosis.

5) Febrile and weakened patients particularly, who need a chest tap, tolerate the lateral recumbent position well.