An operation in which a hollow needle is put into the pleura to drain liquid.
Insertion of a hollow needle into the pleural cavity through the chest wall in order to withdraw fluid, blood, pus, or air.
A surgical procedure where a needle is inserted through the skin into the pleural space to extract fluid for lab analysis of its content and microbes. This can sometimes be done to remove a significant amount of pleural effusion that affects breathing and heart performance.