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Safe and effective bedside thoracentesis: A review of the evidence for practicing clinicians
Pleural effusion can occur in myriad conditions including infection, heart failure, liver disease, and cancer.1 Consequently, physicians from many disciplines routinely encounter both inpatients and outpatients with this diagnosis. Often, evaluation and treatment require thoracentesis to obtain fluid for analysis or symptom relief.
Although historically performed at the bedside without imaging guidance or intraprocedural monitoring, thoracentesis performed in this fashion carries considerable risk of complications. In fact, it has 1 of the highest rates of iatrogenic pneumothorax among bedside procedures.2 However, recent advances in practice and adoption of newer technologies have helped to mitigate risks associated with this procedure. These advances are relevant because approximately 50% of thoracenteses are still performed at the bedside.3 In this review, we aim to identify the most recent key practices that enhance the safety and the effectiveness of thoracentesis for practicing clinicians.
METHODS
Information Sources and Search Strategy
With the assistance of a research librarian, we performed a systematic search of PubMed-indexed articles from January 1, 2000 to September 30, 2015. Articles were identified using search terms such as thoracentesis, pleural effusion, safety, medical error, adverse event, and ultrasound in combination with Boolean operators. Of note, as thoracentesis is indexed as a subgroup of paracentesis in PubMed, this term was also included to increase the sensitivity of the search. The full search strategy is available in the Appendix. Any references cited in this review outside of the date range of our search are provided only to give relevant background information or establish the origin of commonly performed practices.
Study Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Studies were included if they reported clinical aspects related to thoracentesis. We defined clinical aspects as those strategies that focused on operator training, procedural techniques, technology, management, or prevention of complications. Non-English language articles, animal studies, case reports, conference proceedings, and abstracts were excluded. As our intention was to focus on the contemporary advances related to thoracentesis performance, (eg, ultrasound [US]), our search was limited to studies published after the year 2000. Two authors, Drs. Schildhouse and Lai independently screened studies to determine inclusion, excluding studies with weak methodology, very small sample sizes, and those only tangentially related to our aim. Disagreements regarding study inclusion were resolved by consensus. Drs. Lai, Barsuk, and Mourad identified additional studies by hand review of reference lists and content experts (Figure 1).
Conceptual Framework
All selected articles were categorized by temporal relationship to thoracentesis as pre-, intra-, or postprocedure. Pre-procedural topics were those outcomes that had been identified and addressed before attempting thoracentesis, such as physician training or perceived risks of harm. Intraprocedural considerations included aspects such as use of bedside US, pleural manometry, and large-volume drainage. Finally, postprocedural factors were those related to evaluation after thoracentesis, such as follow-up imaging. This conceptual framework is outlined in Figure 2.
RESULTS
The PubMed search returned a total of 1170 manuscripts, of which 56 articles met inclusion criteria. Four additional articles were identified by experts and included in the study.4-7 Therefore, 60 articles were identified and included in this review. Study designs included cohort studies, case control studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, consensus guidelines, and randomized controlled trials. A summary of all included articles by topic can be found in the Table.
PRE-PROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Physician Training
Studies indicate that graduate medical education may not adequately prepare clinicians to perform thoracentesis.8 In fact, residents have the least exposure and confidence in performing thoracentesis when compared to other bedside procedures.9,10 In 1 survey, 69% of medical trainees desired more exposure to procedures, and 98% felt that procedural skills were important to master.11 Not surprisingly, then, graduating internal medicine residents perform poorly when assessed on a thoracentesis simulator.12
Supplemental training outside of residency is useful to develop and maintain skills for thoracentesis, such as simulation with direct observation in a zero-risk environment. In 1 study, “simulation-based mastery learning” combined an educational video presentation with repeated, deliberate practice on a simulator until procedural competence was acquired, over two 2-hour sessions. In this study, 40 third-year medicine residents demonstrated a 71% improvement in clinical skills performance after course completion, with 93% achieving a passing score. The remaining 7% also achieved passing scores with extra practice time.12 Others have built upon the concept of simulation-based training. For instance, 2 studies suggest that use of a simulation-based curriculum improved both thoracentesis knowledge and performance skills in a 3-hour session.13,14 Similarly, 1 prospective study reported that a half-day thoracentesis workshop using simulation and 1:1 direct observation successfully lowered pneumothorax rates from 8.6% to 1.8% in a group of practicing clinicians. Notably, additional interventions including use of bedside US, limiting operators to a focused group, and standardization of equipment were also a part of this quality improvement initiative.7 Although repetition is required to gain proficiency when using a simulator, performance and confidence appear to plateau with only 4 simulator trials. In medical students, improvements derived through simulator-based teaching were sustained when retested 6 months following training.15
An instrument to ensure competency is necessary, given variability in procedural experience among both new graduates and practicing physicians,. Our search did not identify any clinically validated tools that adequately assessed thoracentesis performance. However, some have been proposed16 and 1 validated in a simulation environment.12 Regarding the incorporation of US for effusion markup, 1 validated tool used an 11-domain assessment covering knowledge of US machine manipulation, recognition of images with common pleural effusion characteristics, and performance of thoracic US with puncture-site marking on a simulator. When used on 22 participants, scores with the tool could reliably differentiate between novice, intermediate, and advanced groups (P < 0.0001).17
Patient Selection
Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation. Historically, the accepted cutoff for performing thoracentesis is an international normalized ratio (INR) less than 1.5 and a platelet count greater than 50,000/µL. McVay et al.18 first showed in 1991 that use of these cutoffs was associated with low rates of periprocedural bleeding, leading to endorsement in the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Pleural Disease Guideline 2010.19 Other recommendations include the 2012 Society for Interventional Radiology guidelines that endorse correction of an INR greater than 2, or platelets less than 50,000/µL, based almost exclusively on expert opinion.5
However, data suggest that thoracentesis may be safely performed outside these parameters. For instance, a prospective study of approximately 9000 thoracenteses over 12 years found that patients with an INR of 1.5-2.9 or platelets of 20,000 - 49,000/µL experienced rates of bleeding complications similar to those with normal values.20 Similarly, a 2014 review21 found that the overall risk of hemorrhage during thoracentesis in the setting of moderate coagulopathy (defined as an INR of 1.5 - 3 or platelets of 25,000-50,000/µL), was not increased. In 1 retrospective study of more than 1000 procedures, no differences in hemorrhagic events were noted in patients with bleeding diatheses that received prophylactic fresh frozen plasma or platelets vs. those who did not.22 Of note, included studies used a variety of criteria to define a hemorrhagic complication, which included: an isolated 2 g/dL or more decrement in hemoglobin, presence of bloody fluid on repeat tap with associated hemoglobin decrement, rapid re-accumulation of fluid with a hemoglobin decrement, or transfusion of 2 units or more of whole blood.
Whether it is safe to perform thoracentesis on patients taking antiplatelet therapy is less well understood. Although data are limited, a few small-scale studies23,24 suggest that hemorrhagic complications following thoracentesis in patients receiving clopidogrel are comparable to the general population. We found no compelling data regarding the safety of thoracentesis in the setting of direct oral anticoagulants, heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, or intravenous direct thrombin inhibitors. Current practice is to generally avoid thoracentesis while these therapeutic anticoagulants are used.
Invasive mechanical ventilation. Pleural effusion is common in patients in the intensive care unit, including those requiring mechanical ventilation.25 Thoracentesis in this population is clinically important: fluid analysis in 1 study was shown to aid the diagnosis in 45% of cases and changes in treatment in 33%.26 However, clinicians may be reluctant to perform thoracentesis on patients who require mechanical ventilation, given the perception of a greater risk of pneumothorax from positive pressure ventilation.
Despite this concern, a 2011 meta-analysis including 19 studies and more than 1100 patients revealed rates of pneumothorax and hemothorax comparable to nonventilated patients.25 Furthermore, a 2015 prospective study that examined thoracentesis in 1377 mechanically ventilated patients revealed no difference in complication rates as well.20 Therefore, evidence suggests that performance of thoracentesis in mechanically ventilated patients is not contraindicated.
Skin Disinfection and Antisepsis Precautions
The 2010 BTS guidelines list empyema and wound infection as possible complications of thoracentesis.19 However, no data regarding incidence are provided. Additionally, an alcohol-based skin cleanser (such as 2% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% isopropyl alcohol), along with sterile gloves, field, and dressing are suggested as precautionary measures.19 In 1 single-center registry of 2489 thoracenteses performed using alcohol or iodine-based antiseptic and sterile drapes, no postprocedure infections were identified.27 Of note, we did not find other studies (including case reports) that reported either incidence or rate of infectious complications such as wound infection and empyema. In an era of modern skin antiseptics that have effectively reduced complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infection,28 the incidence of this event is thus likely to be low.
INTRAPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Use of Bedside Ultrasound
Portable US has particular advantages for evaluation of pleural effusion vs other imaging modalities. Compared with computerized tomography (CT), bedside US offers similar performance but is less costly, avoids both radiation exposure and need for patient transportation, and provides results instantaneously.29,30 Compared to chest x-ray (CXR), US is more sensitive at detecting the presence, volume, and characteristics of pleural fluid30,31 and can be up to 100% sensitive for effusions greater than 100 mL.29 Furthermore, whereas CXR typically requires 200 mL of fluid to be present for detection of an effusion, US can reliably detect as little as 20 mL of fluid.29 When US was used to confirm thoracentesis puncture sites in a study involving 30 physicians of varying experience and 67 consecutive patients, 15% of sites found by clinical exam were inaccurate (less than 10 mm fluid present), 10% were at high risk for organ puncture, and a suitable fluid pocket was found 54% of times when exam could not.4
A 2010 meta-analysis of 24 studies and 6605 thoracenteses estimated the overall rate of pneumothorax at 6%; however, procedures performed with US guidance were associated with a 70% reduced risk of this event (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 - 0.70).32 In a 2014 randomized control trial of 160 patients that compared thoracentesis with US guidance for site marking vs no US use, 10 pneumothoraces occurred in the control group vs 1 in the US group (12.5% vs 1.25%, P = 0.009).33 Similarly, another retrospective review of 445 consecutive patients with malignant effusions revealed a pneumothorax rate of 0.97% using US in real time during needle insertion compared to 8.89% for unguided thoracenteses (P < 0.0001).34 Several other studies using US guidance for either site markup or in real time reported similar pneumothorax rates, ranging from 1.1% - 4.8%.35-37 However, it is unclear if real-time US specifically provides an additive effect vs site marking alone, as no studies directly comparing the 2 methods were found.
Benefits of US also include a higher rate of procedural success, with 1 study demonstrating a 99% success rate when using US vs. 90% without (P = 0.030).33 A larger volume of fluid removed has been observed with US use as well, and methods have been described using fluid-pocket depth to guide puncture site localization and maximize drainage.38 Finally, US use for thoracentesis has been associated with lower costs and length of stay.39,40
Intercostal Artery Localization
Although rare (incidence, 0.18%-2%20,21,39), the occurrence of hemothorax following thoracentesis is potentially catastrophic. This serious complication is often caused by laceration of the intercostal artery (ICA) or 1 of its branches during needle insertion.41
While risk of injury is theoretically reduced by needle insertion superior to the rib, studies using cadaver dissection and 3D angiography show significant tortuosity of the ICA.6,41-43 The degree of tortuosity is increased within 6 cm of the midline, in more cephalad rib spaces, and in the elderly (older than 60 years).41-43 Furthermore, 1 cadaveric study also demonstrated the presence of arterial collaterals branching off the ICA at multiple intercostal spaces, ranging between 8 cm and 11 cm from the midline.41 This anatomic variability may explain why some have observed low complication and hemothorax rates with an extreme lateral approach.35 Bedside US with color flow Doppler imaging has been used to identify the ICA, with 88% sensitivity compared to CT imaging while adding little to exam time.44,45 Of note, a 37% drop in the rate of hemothorax was observed in 1 study with routine US guidance alone.39
Pleural Pressure Monitoring and Large-Volume Thoracentesis
While normal intrapleural pressures are approximately -5 to -10 cm H2O,46 the presence of a pleural effusion creates a complex interaction between fluid, compressed lung, and chest wall that can increase these pressures.47 During drainage of an effusion, pleural pressures may rapidly drop, provoking re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE). While rare (0 -1%), clinically-diagnosed REPE is a serious complication that can lead to rapid respiratory failure and death.20,48 REPE is postulated to be caused by increased capillary permeability resulting from inflammation, driven by rapid re-inflation of the lung when exposed to highly negative intrapleural pressures.47,49
Measurement of intrapleural pressure using a water manometer during thoracentesis may minimize REPE by terminating fluid drainage when intrapleural pressure begins to drop rapidly.50,51 A cutoff of -20 cm H2O has been cited repeatedly as safe since being suggested by Light in 1980, but this is based on animal models.50,52 In 1 prospective study of 185 thoracenteses in which manometry was performed, 15% of patients had intrapleural pressure drop to less than -20 cm H2O (at which point the procedure was terminated) but suffered no REPE.50
Manometry is valuable in the identification of an unexpandable or trapped lung when pleural pressures drop rapidly with only minimal fluid volume removal.47,53 Other findings correlated with an unexpandable lung include a negative opening pressure47 and large fluctuations in pressure during the respiratory cycle.54
While development of symptoms (eg, chest pain, cough, or dyspnea) is often used as a surrogate, the correlation between intrapleural pressure and patient symptoms is inconsistent and not a reliable proxy.55 One study found that 22% of patients with chest pain during thoracentesis had intrapleural pressures lower than -20 cm H2O compared with 8.6% of asymptomatic patients,56 but it is unclear if the association is causal.
Thoracentesis is often performed for symptomatic relief and removal of large fluid volume. However, it remains common to halt fluid removal after 1.5 L, a threshold endorsed by BTS.19 While some investigators have suggested that removal of 2 L or more of pleural fluid does not compromise safety,57,58 a 4- to 5-fold rise in the risk of pneumothorax was noted in 2 studies.20,59 when more than 1.5 L of fluid was removed. The majority of these may be related to pneumothorax ex vacuo, a condition in which fluid is drained from the chest, but the lung is unable to expand and fill the space (eg, “trapped lung”), resulting in a persistent pneumothorax. This condition generally does not require treatment.60 When manometry is employed at 200-mL intervals with termination at an intrapleural pressure of less than 20 mm H2O, drainage of 3 L or more has been reported with low rates of pneumothorax and very low rates of REPE.50,51 However, whether this is cause and effect is unknown because REPE is rare, and more work is needed to determine the role of manometry for its prevention.
POSTPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Postprocedure Imaging
Performing an upright CXR following thoracentesis is a practice that remains routinely done by many practitioners to monitor for complications. Such imaging was also endorsed by the American Thoracic Society guidelines.61 However, more recent data question the utility of this practice. Multiple studies have confirmed that post-thoracentesis CXR is unnecessary unless clinical suspicion for pneumothorax or REPE is present.36,58,62,63 The BTS guidelines also advocate this approach.19 Interestingly, a potentially more effective way to screen for postprocedure complications is through bedside US, which has been shown to be more sensitive than CXR in detecting pneumothorax.64 In 1 study of 185 patients, bedside US demonstrated a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 97% for diagnosing pneumothorax in patients with adequate quality scans, with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 55 and 0.17, respectively.65
DISCUSSION
Thoracentesis remains a core procedural skill for hospitalists, critical care physicians, and emergency physicians. It is the foundational component when investigating and treating pleural effusions. When the most current training, techniques, and technology are used, data suggest this procedure is safe to perform at the bedside. Our review highlights these strategies and evaluates which aspects might be most applicable to clinical practice.
Our findings have several implications for those who perform this procedure. First, appropriate training is central to procedural safety, and both simulation and direct observation by procedural experts have been shown by multiple investigators to improve knowledge and skill. This training should integrate the use of US in performing a focused thoracic exam.
Second, recommendations regarding coagulopathy and a “safe cutoff” of an INR less than 1.5 or platelets greater than 50,000/µL had limited evidentiary support. Rather, multiple studies suggest no difference in bleeding risk following thoracentesis with an INR as high as 3.0 and platelets greater than 25,000/µL. Furthermore, prophylactic transfusion with fresh frozen plasma or platelets before thoracentesis did not alter bleeding risk and exposes patients to transfusion complications. Thus, routine use of this practice can no longer be recommended. Third, further research is needed to understand the bleeding risk for patients on antiplatelet medications, heparin products, and also direct oral anticoagulants, given the growing popularity in their use and the potential consequences of even temporary cessation. Regarding patients on mechanical ventilation, thoracentesis demonstrated no difference in complication rates vs. the general population, and its performance in this population is encouraged when clinically indicated.
Intraprocedural considerations include the use of bedside US. Due to multiple benefits including effusion characterization, puncture site localization, and significantly lower rates of pneumothorax, the standard of care should be to perform thoracentesis with US guidance. Both use of US to mark an effusion immediately prior to puncture or in real time during needle insertion demonstrated benefit; however, it is unclear if 1 method is superior because no direct comparison studies were found. Further work is needed to investigate this potential.
Our review suggests that the location and course of the ICA is variable, especially near the midline, in the elderly, and in higher intercostal spaces, leaving it vulnerable to laceration. We recommend physicians only attempt thoracentesis at least 6 cm lateral to the midline due to ICA tortuosity and, ideally, 12 cm lateral, to avoid the presence of collaterals. Although only 2 small-scale studies were found pertaining to the use of US in identifying the ICA, we encourage physicians to consider learning how to screen for its presence as a part of their routine thoracic US exam in the area underlying the planned puncture site.
Manometry is beneficial because it can diagnose a nonexpandable lung and allows for pleural pressure monitoring.52,53 A simple U-shaped manometer can be constructed from intravenous tubing included in most thoracentesis kits, which adds little to overall procedure time. While low rates of REPE have been observed when terminating thoracentesis if pressures drop below -20 cm H2O or chest pain develops, neither measure appears to have reliable predictive value, limiting clinical utility. Further work is required to determine if a “safe pressure cutoff” exists. In general, we recommend the use of manometry when a nonexpandable (trapped) lung is suspected, because large drops in intrapleural pressure, a negative opening pressure, and respiratory variation can help confirm the diagnosis and avoid pneumothorax ex vacuo or unnecessary procedures in the future. As this condition appears to be more common in the setting of larger effusions, use of manometry when large-volume thoracenteses are planned is also reasonable.
Postprocedurally, routine imaging after thoracentesis is not recommended unless there is objective concern for complication. When indicated, bedside US is better positioned for this role compared with CXR, because it is more sensitive in detecting pneumothorax, provides instantaneous results, and avoids radiation exposure.
Our review has limitations. First, we searched only for articles between defined time periods, restricted our search to a single database, and excluded non-English articles. This has the potential to introduce selection bias, as nonprimary articles that fall within our time restrictions may cite older studies that are outside our search range. To minimize this effect, we performed a critical review of all included studies, especially nonprimary articles. Second, despite the focus of our search strategy to identify any articles related to patient safety and adverse events, we cannot guarantee that all relevant articles for any particular complication or risk factor were captured given the lack of more specific search terms. Third, although we performed a systematic search of the literature, we did not perform a formal systematic review or formally grade included studies. As the goal of our review was to categorize and operationalize clinical aspects, this approach was necessary, and we acknowledge that the quality of studies is variable. Lastly, we aimed to generate clinical recommendations for physicians performing thoracentesis at the bedside; others reviewing this literature may find or emphasize different aspects relevant to practice outside this setting.
In conclusion, evaluation and treatment of pleural effusions with bedside thoracentesis is an important skill for physicians of many disciplines. The evidence presented in this review will help inform the process and ensure patient safety. Physicians should consider incorporating these recommendations into their practice.
The authors thank Whitney Townsend, MLIS, health sciences informationist, for assistance with serial literature searches.
Disclosure
Nothing to report.
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58. Mynarek G, Brabrand K, Jakobsen JA, Kolbenstvedt A. Complications following ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis. Acta Radiol. 2004;45(5):519-522. PubMed
59. Josephson T, Nordenskjold CA, Larsson J, Rosenberg LU, Kaijser M. Amount drained at ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and risk of pneumothorax. Acta Radiol. 2009;50(1):42-47. PubMed
60. Heidecker J, Huggins JT, Sahn SA, Doelken P. Pathophysiology of pneumothorax following ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;130(4):1173-1184. PubMed
61. Sokolowski JW Jr, Burgher LW, Jones FL Jr, Patterson JR, Selecky PA. Guidelines for thoracentesis and needle biopsy of the pleura. This position paper of the American Thoracic Society was adopted by the ATS Board of Directors, June 1988. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;140(1):257-258. PubMed
62. Jones PW, Moyers JP, Rogers JT, Rodriguez RM, Lee YC, Light RW. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis: is it a safer method? Chest. 2003;123(2):418-423. PubMed
63. Petersen WG, Zimmerman R. Limited utility of chest radiograph after thoracentesis. Chest. 2000;117(4):1038-1042. PubMed
64. Sachdeva A, Shepherd RW, Lee HJ. Thoracentesis and thoracic ultrasound: state of the art in 2013. Clin Chest Med. 2013;34(1):1-9. PubMed
65. Shostak E, Brylka D, Krepp J, Pua B, Sanders A. Bedside sonography for detection of postprocedure pneumothorax. J Ultrasound Med. 2013;32(6):1003-1009. PubMed
Pleural effusion can occur in myriad conditions including infection, heart failure, liver disease, and cancer.1 Consequently, physicians from many disciplines routinely encounter both inpatients and outpatients with this diagnosis. Often, evaluation and treatment require thoracentesis to obtain fluid for analysis or symptom relief.
Although historically performed at the bedside without imaging guidance or intraprocedural monitoring, thoracentesis performed in this fashion carries considerable risk of complications. In fact, it has 1 of the highest rates of iatrogenic pneumothorax among bedside procedures.2 However, recent advances in practice and adoption of newer technologies have helped to mitigate risks associated with this procedure. These advances are relevant because approximately 50% of thoracenteses are still performed at the bedside.3 In this review, we aim to identify the most recent key practices that enhance the safety and the effectiveness of thoracentesis for practicing clinicians.
METHODS
Information Sources and Search Strategy
With the assistance of a research librarian, we performed a systematic search of PubMed-indexed articles from January 1, 2000 to September 30, 2015. Articles were identified using search terms such as thoracentesis, pleural effusion, safety, medical error, adverse event, and ultrasound in combination with Boolean operators. Of note, as thoracentesis is indexed as a subgroup of paracentesis in PubMed, this term was also included to increase the sensitivity of the search. The full search strategy is available in the Appendix. Any references cited in this review outside of the date range of our search are provided only to give relevant background information or establish the origin of commonly performed practices.
Study Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Studies were included if they reported clinical aspects related to thoracentesis. We defined clinical aspects as those strategies that focused on operator training, procedural techniques, technology, management, or prevention of complications. Non-English language articles, animal studies, case reports, conference proceedings, and abstracts were excluded. As our intention was to focus on the contemporary advances related to thoracentesis performance, (eg, ultrasound [US]), our search was limited to studies published after the year 2000. Two authors, Drs. Schildhouse and Lai independently screened studies to determine inclusion, excluding studies with weak methodology, very small sample sizes, and those only tangentially related to our aim. Disagreements regarding study inclusion were resolved by consensus. Drs. Lai, Barsuk, and Mourad identified additional studies by hand review of reference lists and content experts (Figure 1).
Conceptual Framework
All selected articles were categorized by temporal relationship to thoracentesis as pre-, intra-, or postprocedure. Pre-procedural topics were those outcomes that had been identified and addressed before attempting thoracentesis, such as physician training or perceived risks of harm. Intraprocedural considerations included aspects such as use of bedside US, pleural manometry, and large-volume drainage. Finally, postprocedural factors were those related to evaluation after thoracentesis, such as follow-up imaging. This conceptual framework is outlined in Figure 2.
RESULTS
The PubMed search returned a total of 1170 manuscripts, of which 56 articles met inclusion criteria. Four additional articles were identified by experts and included in the study.4-7 Therefore, 60 articles were identified and included in this review. Study designs included cohort studies, case control studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, consensus guidelines, and randomized controlled trials. A summary of all included articles by topic can be found in the Table.
PRE-PROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Physician Training
Studies indicate that graduate medical education may not adequately prepare clinicians to perform thoracentesis.8 In fact, residents have the least exposure and confidence in performing thoracentesis when compared to other bedside procedures.9,10 In 1 survey, 69% of medical trainees desired more exposure to procedures, and 98% felt that procedural skills were important to master.11 Not surprisingly, then, graduating internal medicine residents perform poorly when assessed on a thoracentesis simulator.12
Supplemental training outside of residency is useful to develop and maintain skills for thoracentesis, such as simulation with direct observation in a zero-risk environment. In 1 study, “simulation-based mastery learning” combined an educational video presentation with repeated, deliberate practice on a simulator until procedural competence was acquired, over two 2-hour sessions. In this study, 40 third-year medicine residents demonstrated a 71% improvement in clinical skills performance after course completion, with 93% achieving a passing score. The remaining 7% also achieved passing scores with extra practice time.12 Others have built upon the concept of simulation-based training. For instance, 2 studies suggest that use of a simulation-based curriculum improved both thoracentesis knowledge and performance skills in a 3-hour session.13,14 Similarly, 1 prospective study reported that a half-day thoracentesis workshop using simulation and 1:1 direct observation successfully lowered pneumothorax rates from 8.6% to 1.8% in a group of practicing clinicians. Notably, additional interventions including use of bedside US, limiting operators to a focused group, and standardization of equipment were also a part of this quality improvement initiative.7 Although repetition is required to gain proficiency when using a simulator, performance and confidence appear to plateau with only 4 simulator trials. In medical students, improvements derived through simulator-based teaching were sustained when retested 6 months following training.15
An instrument to ensure competency is necessary, given variability in procedural experience among both new graduates and practicing physicians,. Our search did not identify any clinically validated tools that adequately assessed thoracentesis performance. However, some have been proposed16 and 1 validated in a simulation environment.12 Regarding the incorporation of US for effusion markup, 1 validated tool used an 11-domain assessment covering knowledge of US machine manipulation, recognition of images with common pleural effusion characteristics, and performance of thoracic US with puncture-site marking on a simulator. When used on 22 participants, scores with the tool could reliably differentiate between novice, intermediate, and advanced groups (P < 0.0001).17
Patient Selection
Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation. Historically, the accepted cutoff for performing thoracentesis is an international normalized ratio (INR) less than 1.5 and a platelet count greater than 50,000/µL. McVay et al.18 first showed in 1991 that use of these cutoffs was associated with low rates of periprocedural bleeding, leading to endorsement in the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Pleural Disease Guideline 2010.19 Other recommendations include the 2012 Society for Interventional Radiology guidelines that endorse correction of an INR greater than 2, or platelets less than 50,000/µL, based almost exclusively on expert opinion.5
However, data suggest that thoracentesis may be safely performed outside these parameters. For instance, a prospective study of approximately 9000 thoracenteses over 12 years found that patients with an INR of 1.5-2.9 or platelets of 20,000 - 49,000/µL experienced rates of bleeding complications similar to those with normal values.20 Similarly, a 2014 review21 found that the overall risk of hemorrhage during thoracentesis in the setting of moderate coagulopathy (defined as an INR of 1.5 - 3 or platelets of 25,000-50,000/µL), was not increased. In 1 retrospective study of more than 1000 procedures, no differences in hemorrhagic events were noted in patients with bleeding diatheses that received prophylactic fresh frozen plasma or platelets vs. those who did not.22 Of note, included studies used a variety of criteria to define a hemorrhagic complication, which included: an isolated 2 g/dL or more decrement in hemoglobin, presence of bloody fluid on repeat tap with associated hemoglobin decrement, rapid re-accumulation of fluid with a hemoglobin decrement, or transfusion of 2 units or more of whole blood.
Whether it is safe to perform thoracentesis on patients taking antiplatelet therapy is less well understood. Although data are limited, a few small-scale studies23,24 suggest that hemorrhagic complications following thoracentesis in patients receiving clopidogrel are comparable to the general population. We found no compelling data regarding the safety of thoracentesis in the setting of direct oral anticoagulants, heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, or intravenous direct thrombin inhibitors. Current practice is to generally avoid thoracentesis while these therapeutic anticoagulants are used.
Invasive mechanical ventilation. Pleural effusion is common in patients in the intensive care unit, including those requiring mechanical ventilation.25 Thoracentesis in this population is clinically important: fluid analysis in 1 study was shown to aid the diagnosis in 45% of cases and changes in treatment in 33%.26 However, clinicians may be reluctant to perform thoracentesis on patients who require mechanical ventilation, given the perception of a greater risk of pneumothorax from positive pressure ventilation.
Despite this concern, a 2011 meta-analysis including 19 studies and more than 1100 patients revealed rates of pneumothorax and hemothorax comparable to nonventilated patients.25 Furthermore, a 2015 prospective study that examined thoracentesis in 1377 mechanically ventilated patients revealed no difference in complication rates as well.20 Therefore, evidence suggests that performance of thoracentesis in mechanically ventilated patients is not contraindicated.
Skin Disinfection and Antisepsis Precautions
The 2010 BTS guidelines list empyema and wound infection as possible complications of thoracentesis.19 However, no data regarding incidence are provided. Additionally, an alcohol-based skin cleanser (such as 2% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% isopropyl alcohol), along with sterile gloves, field, and dressing are suggested as precautionary measures.19 In 1 single-center registry of 2489 thoracenteses performed using alcohol or iodine-based antiseptic and sterile drapes, no postprocedure infections were identified.27 Of note, we did not find other studies (including case reports) that reported either incidence or rate of infectious complications such as wound infection and empyema. In an era of modern skin antiseptics that have effectively reduced complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infection,28 the incidence of this event is thus likely to be low.
INTRAPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Use of Bedside Ultrasound
Portable US has particular advantages for evaluation of pleural effusion vs other imaging modalities. Compared with computerized tomography (CT), bedside US offers similar performance but is less costly, avoids both radiation exposure and need for patient transportation, and provides results instantaneously.29,30 Compared to chest x-ray (CXR), US is more sensitive at detecting the presence, volume, and characteristics of pleural fluid30,31 and can be up to 100% sensitive for effusions greater than 100 mL.29 Furthermore, whereas CXR typically requires 200 mL of fluid to be present for detection of an effusion, US can reliably detect as little as 20 mL of fluid.29 When US was used to confirm thoracentesis puncture sites in a study involving 30 physicians of varying experience and 67 consecutive patients, 15% of sites found by clinical exam were inaccurate (less than 10 mm fluid present), 10% were at high risk for organ puncture, and a suitable fluid pocket was found 54% of times when exam could not.4
A 2010 meta-analysis of 24 studies and 6605 thoracenteses estimated the overall rate of pneumothorax at 6%; however, procedures performed with US guidance were associated with a 70% reduced risk of this event (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 - 0.70).32 In a 2014 randomized control trial of 160 patients that compared thoracentesis with US guidance for site marking vs no US use, 10 pneumothoraces occurred in the control group vs 1 in the US group (12.5% vs 1.25%, P = 0.009).33 Similarly, another retrospective review of 445 consecutive patients with malignant effusions revealed a pneumothorax rate of 0.97% using US in real time during needle insertion compared to 8.89% for unguided thoracenteses (P < 0.0001).34 Several other studies using US guidance for either site markup or in real time reported similar pneumothorax rates, ranging from 1.1% - 4.8%.35-37 However, it is unclear if real-time US specifically provides an additive effect vs site marking alone, as no studies directly comparing the 2 methods were found.
Benefits of US also include a higher rate of procedural success, with 1 study demonstrating a 99% success rate when using US vs. 90% without (P = 0.030).33 A larger volume of fluid removed has been observed with US use as well, and methods have been described using fluid-pocket depth to guide puncture site localization and maximize drainage.38 Finally, US use for thoracentesis has been associated with lower costs and length of stay.39,40
Intercostal Artery Localization
Although rare (incidence, 0.18%-2%20,21,39), the occurrence of hemothorax following thoracentesis is potentially catastrophic. This serious complication is often caused by laceration of the intercostal artery (ICA) or 1 of its branches during needle insertion.41
While risk of injury is theoretically reduced by needle insertion superior to the rib, studies using cadaver dissection and 3D angiography show significant tortuosity of the ICA.6,41-43 The degree of tortuosity is increased within 6 cm of the midline, in more cephalad rib spaces, and in the elderly (older than 60 years).41-43 Furthermore, 1 cadaveric study also demonstrated the presence of arterial collaterals branching off the ICA at multiple intercostal spaces, ranging between 8 cm and 11 cm from the midline.41 This anatomic variability may explain why some have observed low complication and hemothorax rates with an extreme lateral approach.35 Bedside US with color flow Doppler imaging has been used to identify the ICA, with 88% sensitivity compared to CT imaging while adding little to exam time.44,45 Of note, a 37% drop in the rate of hemothorax was observed in 1 study with routine US guidance alone.39
Pleural Pressure Monitoring and Large-Volume Thoracentesis
While normal intrapleural pressures are approximately -5 to -10 cm H2O,46 the presence of a pleural effusion creates a complex interaction between fluid, compressed lung, and chest wall that can increase these pressures.47 During drainage of an effusion, pleural pressures may rapidly drop, provoking re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE). While rare (0 -1%), clinically-diagnosed REPE is a serious complication that can lead to rapid respiratory failure and death.20,48 REPE is postulated to be caused by increased capillary permeability resulting from inflammation, driven by rapid re-inflation of the lung when exposed to highly negative intrapleural pressures.47,49
Measurement of intrapleural pressure using a water manometer during thoracentesis may minimize REPE by terminating fluid drainage when intrapleural pressure begins to drop rapidly.50,51 A cutoff of -20 cm H2O has been cited repeatedly as safe since being suggested by Light in 1980, but this is based on animal models.50,52 In 1 prospective study of 185 thoracenteses in which manometry was performed, 15% of patients had intrapleural pressure drop to less than -20 cm H2O (at which point the procedure was terminated) but suffered no REPE.50
Manometry is valuable in the identification of an unexpandable or trapped lung when pleural pressures drop rapidly with only minimal fluid volume removal.47,53 Other findings correlated with an unexpandable lung include a negative opening pressure47 and large fluctuations in pressure during the respiratory cycle.54
While development of symptoms (eg, chest pain, cough, or dyspnea) is often used as a surrogate, the correlation between intrapleural pressure and patient symptoms is inconsistent and not a reliable proxy.55 One study found that 22% of patients with chest pain during thoracentesis had intrapleural pressures lower than -20 cm H2O compared with 8.6% of asymptomatic patients,56 but it is unclear if the association is causal.
Thoracentesis is often performed for symptomatic relief and removal of large fluid volume. However, it remains common to halt fluid removal after 1.5 L, a threshold endorsed by BTS.19 While some investigators have suggested that removal of 2 L or more of pleural fluid does not compromise safety,57,58 a 4- to 5-fold rise in the risk of pneumothorax was noted in 2 studies.20,59 when more than 1.5 L of fluid was removed. The majority of these may be related to pneumothorax ex vacuo, a condition in which fluid is drained from the chest, but the lung is unable to expand and fill the space (eg, “trapped lung”), resulting in a persistent pneumothorax. This condition generally does not require treatment.60 When manometry is employed at 200-mL intervals with termination at an intrapleural pressure of less than 20 mm H2O, drainage of 3 L or more has been reported with low rates of pneumothorax and very low rates of REPE.50,51 However, whether this is cause and effect is unknown because REPE is rare, and more work is needed to determine the role of manometry for its prevention.
POSTPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Postprocedure Imaging
Performing an upright CXR following thoracentesis is a practice that remains routinely done by many practitioners to monitor for complications. Such imaging was also endorsed by the American Thoracic Society guidelines.61 However, more recent data question the utility of this practice. Multiple studies have confirmed that post-thoracentesis CXR is unnecessary unless clinical suspicion for pneumothorax or REPE is present.36,58,62,63 The BTS guidelines also advocate this approach.19 Interestingly, a potentially more effective way to screen for postprocedure complications is through bedside US, which has been shown to be more sensitive than CXR in detecting pneumothorax.64 In 1 study of 185 patients, bedside US demonstrated a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 97% for diagnosing pneumothorax in patients with adequate quality scans, with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 55 and 0.17, respectively.65
DISCUSSION
Thoracentesis remains a core procedural skill for hospitalists, critical care physicians, and emergency physicians. It is the foundational component when investigating and treating pleural effusions. When the most current training, techniques, and technology are used, data suggest this procedure is safe to perform at the bedside. Our review highlights these strategies and evaluates which aspects might be most applicable to clinical practice.
Our findings have several implications for those who perform this procedure. First, appropriate training is central to procedural safety, and both simulation and direct observation by procedural experts have been shown by multiple investigators to improve knowledge and skill. This training should integrate the use of US in performing a focused thoracic exam.
Second, recommendations regarding coagulopathy and a “safe cutoff” of an INR less than 1.5 or platelets greater than 50,000/µL had limited evidentiary support. Rather, multiple studies suggest no difference in bleeding risk following thoracentesis with an INR as high as 3.0 and platelets greater than 25,000/µL. Furthermore, prophylactic transfusion with fresh frozen plasma or platelets before thoracentesis did not alter bleeding risk and exposes patients to transfusion complications. Thus, routine use of this practice can no longer be recommended. Third, further research is needed to understand the bleeding risk for patients on antiplatelet medications, heparin products, and also direct oral anticoagulants, given the growing popularity in their use and the potential consequences of even temporary cessation. Regarding patients on mechanical ventilation, thoracentesis demonstrated no difference in complication rates vs. the general population, and its performance in this population is encouraged when clinically indicated.
Intraprocedural considerations include the use of bedside US. Due to multiple benefits including effusion characterization, puncture site localization, and significantly lower rates of pneumothorax, the standard of care should be to perform thoracentesis with US guidance. Both use of US to mark an effusion immediately prior to puncture or in real time during needle insertion demonstrated benefit; however, it is unclear if 1 method is superior because no direct comparison studies were found. Further work is needed to investigate this potential.
Our review suggests that the location and course of the ICA is variable, especially near the midline, in the elderly, and in higher intercostal spaces, leaving it vulnerable to laceration. We recommend physicians only attempt thoracentesis at least 6 cm lateral to the midline due to ICA tortuosity and, ideally, 12 cm lateral, to avoid the presence of collaterals. Although only 2 small-scale studies were found pertaining to the use of US in identifying the ICA, we encourage physicians to consider learning how to screen for its presence as a part of their routine thoracic US exam in the area underlying the planned puncture site.
Manometry is beneficial because it can diagnose a nonexpandable lung and allows for pleural pressure monitoring.52,53 A simple U-shaped manometer can be constructed from intravenous tubing included in most thoracentesis kits, which adds little to overall procedure time. While low rates of REPE have been observed when terminating thoracentesis if pressures drop below -20 cm H2O or chest pain develops, neither measure appears to have reliable predictive value, limiting clinical utility. Further work is required to determine if a “safe pressure cutoff” exists. In general, we recommend the use of manometry when a nonexpandable (trapped) lung is suspected, because large drops in intrapleural pressure, a negative opening pressure, and respiratory variation can help confirm the diagnosis and avoid pneumothorax ex vacuo or unnecessary procedures in the future. As this condition appears to be more common in the setting of larger effusions, use of manometry when large-volume thoracenteses are planned is also reasonable.
Postprocedurally, routine imaging after thoracentesis is not recommended unless there is objective concern for complication. When indicated, bedside US is better positioned for this role compared with CXR, because it is more sensitive in detecting pneumothorax, provides instantaneous results, and avoids radiation exposure.
Our review has limitations. First, we searched only for articles between defined time periods, restricted our search to a single database, and excluded non-English articles. This has the potential to introduce selection bias, as nonprimary articles that fall within our time restrictions may cite older studies that are outside our search range. To minimize this effect, we performed a critical review of all included studies, especially nonprimary articles. Second, despite the focus of our search strategy to identify any articles related to patient safety and adverse events, we cannot guarantee that all relevant articles for any particular complication or risk factor were captured given the lack of more specific search terms. Third, although we performed a systematic search of the literature, we did not perform a formal systematic review or formally grade included studies. As the goal of our review was to categorize and operationalize clinical aspects, this approach was necessary, and we acknowledge that the quality of studies is variable. Lastly, we aimed to generate clinical recommendations for physicians performing thoracentesis at the bedside; others reviewing this literature may find or emphasize different aspects relevant to practice outside this setting.
In conclusion, evaluation and treatment of pleural effusions with bedside thoracentesis is an important skill for physicians of many disciplines. The evidence presented in this review will help inform the process and ensure patient safety. Physicians should consider incorporating these recommendations into their practice.
The authors thank Whitney Townsend, MLIS, health sciences informationist, for assistance with serial literature searches.
Disclosure
Nothing to report.
Pleural effusion can occur in myriad conditions including infection, heart failure, liver disease, and cancer.1 Consequently, physicians from many disciplines routinely encounter both inpatients and outpatients with this diagnosis. Often, evaluation and treatment require thoracentesis to obtain fluid for analysis or symptom relief.
Although historically performed at the bedside without imaging guidance or intraprocedural monitoring, thoracentesis performed in this fashion carries considerable risk of complications. In fact, it has 1 of the highest rates of iatrogenic pneumothorax among bedside procedures.2 However, recent advances in practice and adoption of newer technologies have helped to mitigate risks associated with this procedure. These advances are relevant because approximately 50% of thoracenteses are still performed at the bedside.3 In this review, we aim to identify the most recent key practices that enhance the safety and the effectiveness of thoracentesis for practicing clinicians.
METHODS
Information Sources and Search Strategy
With the assistance of a research librarian, we performed a systematic search of PubMed-indexed articles from January 1, 2000 to September 30, 2015. Articles were identified using search terms such as thoracentesis, pleural effusion, safety, medical error, adverse event, and ultrasound in combination with Boolean operators. Of note, as thoracentesis is indexed as a subgroup of paracentesis in PubMed, this term was also included to increase the sensitivity of the search. The full search strategy is available in the Appendix. Any references cited in this review outside of the date range of our search are provided only to give relevant background information or establish the origin of commonly performed practices.
Study Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Studies were included if they reported clinical aspects related to thoracentesis. We defined clinical aspects as those strategies that focused on operator training, procedural techniques, technology, management, or prevention of complications. Non-English language articles, animal studies, case reports, conference proceedings, and abstracts were excluded. As our intention was to focus on the contemporary advances related to thoracentesis performance, (eg, ultrasound [US]), our search was limited to studies published after the year 2000. Two authors, Drs. Schildhouse and Lai independently screened studies to determine inclusion, excluding studies with weak methodology, very small sample sizes, and those only tangentially related to our aim. Disagreements regarding study inclusion were resolved by consensus. Drs. Lai, Barsuk, and Mourad identified additional studies by hand review of reference lists and content experts (Figure 1).
Conceptual Framework
All selected articles were categorized by temporal relationship to thoracentesis as pre-, intra-, or postprocedure. Pre-procedural topics were those outcomes that had been identified and addressed before attempting thoracentesis, such as physician training or perceived risks of harm. Intraprocedural considerations included aspects such as use of bedside US, pleural manometry, and large-volume drainage. Finally, postprocedural factors were those related to evaluation after thoracentesis, such as follow-up imaging. This conceptual framework is outlined in Figure 2.
RESULTS
The PubMed search returned a total of 1170 manuscripts, of which 56 articles met inclusion criteria. Four additional articles were identified by experts and included in the study.4-7 Therefore, 60 articles were identified and included in this review. Study designs included cohort studies, case control studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, consensus guidelines, and randomized controlled trials. A summary of all included articles by topic can be found in the Table.
PRE-PROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Physician Training
Studies indicate that graduate medical education may not adequately prepare clinicians to perform thoracentesis.8 In fact, residents have the least exposure and confidence in performing thoracentesis when compared to other bedside procedures.9,10 In 1 survey, 69% of medical trainees desired more exposure to procedures, and 98% felt that procedural skills were important to master.11 Not surprisingly, then, graduating internal medicine residents perform poorly when assessed on a thoracentesis simulator.12
Supplemental training outside of residency is useful to develop and maintain skills for thoracentesis, such as simulation with direct observation in a zero-risk environment. In 1 study, “simulation-based mastery learning” combined an educational video presentation with repeated, deliberate practice on a simulator until procedural competence was acquired, over two 2-hour sessions. In this study, 40 third-year medicine residents demonstrated a 71% improvement in clinical skills performance after course completion, with 93% achieving a passing score. The remaining 7% also achieved passing scores with extra practice time.12 Others have built upon the concept of simulation-based training. For instance, 2 studies suggest that use of a simulation-based curriculum improved both thoracentesis knowledge and performance skills in a 3-hour session.13,14 Similarly, 1 prospective study reported that a half-day thoracentesis workshop using simulation and 1:1 direct observation successfully lowered pneumothorax rates from 8.6% to 1.8% in a group of practicing clinicians. Notably, additional interventions including use of bedside US, limiting operators to a focused group, and standardization of equipment were also a part of this quality improvement initiative.7 Although repetition is required to gain proficiency when using a simulator, performance and confidence appear to plateau with only 4 simulator trials. In medical students, improvements derived through simulator-based teaching were sustained when retested 6 months following training.15
An instrument to ensure competency is necessary, given variability in procedural experience among both new graduates and practicing physicians,. Our search did not identify any clinically validated tools that adequately assessed thoracentesis performance. However, some have been proposed16 and 1 validated in a simulation environment.12 Regarding the incorporation of US for effusion markup, 1 validated tool used an 11-domain assessment covering knowledge of US machine manipulation, recognition of images with common pleural effusion characteristics, and performance of thoracic US with puncture-site marking on a simulator. When used on 22 participants, scores with the tool could reliably differentiate between novice, intermediate, and advanced groups (P < 0.0001).17
Patient Selection
Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation. Historically, the accepted cutoff for performing thoracentesis is an international normalized ratio (INR) less than 1.5 and a platelet count greater than 50,000/µL. McVay et al.18 first showed in 1991 that use of these cutoffs was associated with low rates of periprocedural bleeding, leading to endorsement in the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Pleural Disease Guideline 2010.19 Other recommendations include the 2012 Society for Interventional Radiology guidelines that endorse correction of an INR greater than 2, or platelets less than 50,000/µL, based almost exclusively on expert opinion.5
However, data suggest that thoracentesis may be safely performed outside these parameters. For instance, a prospective study of approximately 9000 thoracenteses over 12 years found that patients with an INR of 1.5-2.9 or platelets of 20,000 - 49,000/µL experienced rates of bleeding complications similar to those with normal values.20 Similarly, a 2014 review21 found that the overall risk of hemorrhage during thoracentesis in the setting of moderate coagulopathy (defined as an INR of 1.5 - 3 or platelets of 25,000-50,000/µL), was not increased. In 1 retrospective study of more than 1000 procedures, no differences in hemorrhagic events were noted in patients with bleeding diatheses that received prophylactic fresh frozen plasma or platelets vs. those who did not.22 Of note, included studies used a variety of criteria to define a hemorrhagic complication, which included: an isolated 2 g/dL or more decrement in hemoglobin, presence of bloody fluid on repeat tap with associated hemoglobin decrement, rapid re-accumulation of fluid with a hemoglobin decrement, or transfusion of 2 units or more of whole blood.
Whether it is safe to perform thoracentesis on patients taking antiplatelet therapy is less well understood. Although data are limited, a few small-scale studies23,24 suggest that hemorrhagic complications following thoracentesis in patients receiving clopidogrel are comparable to the general population. We found no compelling data regarding the safety of thoracentesis in the setting of direct oral anticoagulants, heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, or intravenous direct thrombin inhibitors. Current practice is to generally avoid thoracentesis while these therapeutic anticoagulants are used.
Invasive mechanical ventilation. Pleural effusion is common in patients in the intensive care unit, including those requiring mechanical ventilation.25 Thoracentesis in this population is clinically important: fluid analysis in 1 study was shown to aid the diagnosis in 45% of cases and changes in treatment in 33%.26 However, clinicians may be reluctant to perform thoracentesis on patients who require mechanical ventilation, given the perception of a greater risk of pneumothorax from positive pressure ventilation.
Despite this concern, a 2011 meta-analysis including 19 studies and more than 1100 patients revealed rates of pneumothorax and hemothorax comparable to nonventilated patients.25 Furthermore, a 2015 prospective study that examined thoracentesis in 1377 mechanically ventilated patients revealed no difference in complication rates as well.20 Therefore, evidence suggests that performance of thoracentesis in mechanically ventilated patients is not contraindicated.
Skin Disinfection and Antisepsis Precautions
The 2010 BTS guidelines list empyema and wound infection as possible complications of thoracentesis.19 However, no data regarding incidence are provided. Additionally, an alcohol-based skin cleanser (such as 2% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% isopropyl alcohol), along with sterile gloves, field, and dressing are suggested as precautionary measures.19 In 1 single-center registry of 2489 thoracenteses performed using alcohol or iodine-based antiseptic and sterile drapes, no postprocedure infections were identified.27 Of note, we did not find other studies (including case reports) that reported either incidence or rate of infectious complications such as wound infection and empyema. In an era of modern skin antiseptics that have effectively reduced complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infection,28 the incidence of this event is thus likely to be low.
INTRAPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Use of Bedside Ultrasound
Portable US has particular advantages for evaluation of pleural effusion vs other imaging modalities. Compared with computerized tomography (CT), bedside US offers similar performance but is less costly, avoids both radiation exposure and need for patient transportation, and provides results instantaneously.29,30 Compared to chest x-ray (CXR), US is more sensitive at detecting the presence, volume, and characteristics of pleural fluid30,31 and can be up to 100% sensitive for effusions greater than 100 mL.29 Furthermore, whereas CXR typically requires 200 mL of fluid to be present for detection of an effusion, US can reliably detect as little as 20 mL of fluid.29 When US was used to confirm thoracentesis puncture sites in a study involving 30 physicians of varying experience and 67 consecutive patients, 15% of sites found by clinical exam were inaccurate (less than 10 mm fluid present), 10% were at high risk for organ puncture, and a suitable fluid pocket was found 54% of times when exam could not.4
A 2010 meta-analysis of 24 studies and 6605 thoracenteses estimated the overall rate of pneumothorax at 6%; however, procedures performed with US guidance were associated with a 70% reduced risk of this event (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 - 0.70).32 In a 2014 randomized control trial of 160 patients that compared thoracentesis with US guidance for site marking vs no US use, 10 pneumothoraces occurred in the control group vs 1 in the US group (12.5% vs 1.25%, P = 0.009).33 Similarly, another retrospective review of 445 consecutive patients with malignant effusions revealed a pneumothorax rate of 0.97% using US in real time during needle insertion compared to 8.89% for unguided thoracenteses (P < 0.0001).34 Several other studies using US guidance for either site markup or in real time reported similar pneumothorax rates, ranging from 1.1% - 4.8%.35-37 However, it is unclear if real-time US specifically provides an additive effect vs site marking alone, as no studies directly comparing the 2 methods were found.
Benefits of US also include a higher rate of procedural success, with 1 study demonstrating a 99% success rate when using US vs. 90% without (P = 0.030).33 A larger volume of fluid removed has been observed with US use as well, and methods have been described using fluid-pocket depth to guide puncture site localization and maximize drainage.38 Finally, US use for thoracentesis has been associated with lower costs and length of stay.39,40
Intercostal Artery Localization
Although rare (incidence, 0.18%-2%20,21,39), the occurrence of hemothorax following thoracentesis is potentially catastrophic. This serious complication is often caused by laceration of the intercostal artery (ICA) or 1 of its branches during needle insertion.41
While risk of injury is theoretically reduced by needle insertion superior to the rib, studies using cadaver dissection and 3D angiography show significant tortuosity of the ICA.6,41-43 The degree of tortuosity is increased within 6 cm of the midline, in more cephalad rib spaces, and in the elderly (older than 60 years).41-43 Furthermore, 1 cadaveric study also demonstrated the presence of arterial collaterals branching off the ICA at multiple intercostal spaces, ranging between 8 cm and 11 cm from the midline.41 This anatomic variability may explain why some have observed low complication and hemothorax rates with an extreme lateral approach.35 Bedside US with color flow Doppler imaging has been used to identify the ICA, with 88% sensitivity compared to CT imaging while adding little to exam time.44,45 Of note, a 37% drop in the rate of hemothorax was observed in 1 study with routine US guidance alone.39
Pleural Pressure Monitoring and Large-Volume Thoracentesis
While normal intrapleural pressures are approximately -5 to -10 cm H2O,46 the presence of a pleural effusion creates a complex interaction between fluid, compressed lung, and chest wall that can increase these pressures.47 During drainage of an effusion, pleural pressures may rapidly drop, provoking re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE). While rare (0 -1%), clinically-diagnosed REPE is a serious complication that can lead to rapid respiratory failure and death.20,48 REPE is postulated to be caused by increased capillary permeability resulting from inflammation, driven by rapid re-inflation of the lung when exposed to highly negative intrapleural pressures.47,49
Measurement of intrapleural pressure using a water manometer during thoracentesis may minimize REPE by terminating fluid drainage when intrapleural pressure begins to drop rapidly.50,51 A cutoff of -20 cm H2O has been cited repeatedly as safe since being suggested by Light in 1980, but this is based on animal models.50,52 In 1 prospective study of 185 thoracenteses in which manometry was performed, 15% of patients had intrapleural pressure drop to less than -20 cm H2O (at which point the procedure was terminated) but suffered no REPE.50
Manometry is valuable in the identification of an unexpandable or trapped lung when pleural pressures drop rapidly with only minimal fluid volume removal.47,53 Other findings correlated with an unexpandable lung include a negative opening pressure47 and large fluctuations in pressure during the respiratory cycle.54
While development of symptoms (eg, chest pain, cough, or dyspnea) is often used as a surrogate, the correlation between intrapleural pressure and patient symptoms is inconsistent and not a reliable proxy.55 One study found that 22% of patients with chest pain during thoracentesis had intrapleural pressures lower than -20 cm H2O compared with 8.6% of asymptomatic patients,56 but it is unclear if the association is causal.
Thoracentesis is often performed for symptomatic relief and removal of large fluid volume. However, it remains common to halt fluid removal after 1.5 L, a threshold endorsed by BTS.19 While some investigators have suggested that removal of 2 L or more of pleural fluid does not compromise safety,57,58 a 4- to 5-fold rise in the risk of pneumothorax was noted in 2 studies.20,59 when more than 1.5 L of fluid was removed. The majority of these may be related to pneumothorax ex vacuo, a condition in which fluid is drained from the chest, but the lung is unable to expand and fill the space (eg, “trapped lung”), resulting in a persistent pneumothorax. This condition generally does not require treatment.60 When manometry is employed at 200-mL intervals with termination at an intrapleural pressure of less than 20 mm H2O, drainage of 3 L or more has been reported with low rates of pneumothorax and very low rates of REPE.50,51 However, whether this is cause and effect is unknown because REPE is rare, and more work is needed to determine the role of manometry for its prevention.
POSTPROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Postprocedure Imaging
Performing an upright CXR following thoracentesis is a practice that remains routinely done by many practitioners to monitor for complications. Such imaging was also endorsed by the American Thoracic Society guidelines.61 However, more recent data question the utility of this practice. Multiple studies have confirmed that post-thoracentesis CXR is unnecessary unless clinical suspicion for pneumothorax or REPE is present.36,58,62,63 The BTS guidelines also advocate this approach.19 Interestingly, a potentially more effective way to screen for postprocedure complications is through bedside US, which has been shown to be more sensitive than CXR in detecting pneumothorax.64 In 1 study of 185 patients, bedside US demonstrated a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 97% for diagnosing pneumothorax in patients with adequate quality scans, with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 55 and 0.17, respectively.65
DISCUSSION
Thoracentesis remains a core procedural skill for hospitalists, critical care physicians, and emergency physicians. It is the foundational component when investigating and treating pleural effusions. When the most current training, techniques, and technology are used, data suggest this procedure is safe to perform at the bedside. Our review highlights these strategies and evaluates which aspects might be most applicable to clinical practice.
Our findings have several implications for those who perform this procedure. First, appropriate training is central to procedural safety, and both simulation and direct observation by procedural experts have been shown by multiple investigators to improve knowledge and skill. This training should integrate the use of US in performing a focused thoracic exam.
Second, recommendations regarding coagulopathy and a “safe cutoff” of an INR less than 1.5 or platelets greater than 50,000/µL had limited evidentiary support. Rather, multiple studies suggest no difference in bleeding risk following thoracentesis with an INR as high as 3.0 and platelets greater than 25,000/µL. Furthermore, prophylactic transfusion with fresh frozen plasma or platelets before thoracentesis did not alter bleeding risk and exposes patients to transfusion complications. Thus, routine use of this practice can no longer be recommended. Third, further research is needed to understand the bleeding risk for patients on antiplatelet medications, heparin products, and also direct oral anticoagulants, given the growing popularity in their use and the potential consequences of even temporary cessation. Regarding patients on mechanical ventilation, thoracentesis demonstrated no difference in complication rates vs. the general population, and its performance in this population is encouraged when clinically indicated.
Intraprocedural considerations include the use of bedside US. Due to multiple benefits including effusion characterization, puncture site localization, and significantly lower rates of pneumothorax, the standard of care should be to perform thoracentesis with US guidance. Both use of US to mark an effusion immediately prior to puncture or in real time during needle insertion demonstrated benefit; however, it is unclear if 1 method is superior because no direct comparison studies were found. Further work is needed to investigate this potential.
Our review suggests that the location and course of the ICA is variable, especially near the midline, in the elderly, and in higher intercostal spaces, leaving it vulnerable to laceration. We recommend physicians only attempt thoracentesis at least 6 cm lateral to the midline due to ICA tortuosity and, ideally, 12 cm lateral, to avoid the presence of collaterals. Although only 2 small-scale studies were found pertaining to the use of US in identifying the ICA, we encourage physicians to consider learning how to screen for its presence as a part of their routine thoracic US exam in the area underlying the planned puncture site.
Manometry is beneficial because it can diagnose a nonexpandable lung and allows for pleural pressure monitoring.52,53 A simple U-shaped manometer can be constructed from intravenous tubing included in most thoracentesis kits, which adds little to overall procedure time. While low rates of REPE have been observed when terminating thoracentesis if pressures drop below -20 cm H2O or chest pain develops, neither measure appears to have reliable predictive value, limiting clinical utility. Further work is required to determine if a “safe pressure cutoff” exists. In general, we recommend the use of manometry when a nonexpandable (trapped) lung is suspected, because large drops in intrapleural pressure, a negative opening pressure, and respiratory variation can help confirm the diagnosis and avoid pneumothorax ex vacuo or unnecessary procedures in the future. As this condition appears to be more common in the setting of larger effusions, use of manometry when large-volume thoracenteses are planned is also reasonable.
Postprocedurally, routine imaging after thoracentesis is not recommended unless there is objective concern for complication. When indicated, bedside US is better positioned for this role compared with CXR, because it is more sensitive in detecting pneumothorax, provides instantaneous results, and avoids radiation exposure.
Our review has limitations. First, we searched only for articles between defined time periods, restricted our search to a single database, and excluded non-English articles. This has the potential to introduce selection bias, as nonprimary articles that fall within our time restrictions may cite older studies that are outside our search range. To minimize this effect, we performed a critical review of all included studies, especially nonprimary articles. Second, despite the focus of our search strategy to identify any articles related to patient safety and adverse events, we cannot guarantee that all relevant articles for any particular complication or risk factor were captured given the lack of more specific search terms. Third, although we performed a systematic search of the literature, we did not perform a formal systematic review or formally grade included studies. As the goal of our review was to categorize and operationalize clinical aspects, this approach was necessary, and we acknowledge that the quality of studies is variable. Lastly, we aimed to generate clinical recommendations for physicians performing thoracentesis at the bedside; others reviewing this literature may find or emphasize different aspects relevant to practice outside this setting.
In conclusion, evaluation and treatment of pleural effusions with bedside thoracentesis is an important skill for physicians of many disciplines. The evidence presented in this review will help inform the process and ensure patient safety. Physicians should consider incorporating these recommendations into their practice.
The authors thank Whitney Townsend, MLIS, health sciences informationist, for assistance with serial literature searches.
Disclosure
Nothing to report.
1. Kasper DL. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education; 2015.
2. Celik B, Sahin E, Nadir A, Kaptanoglu M. Iatrogenic pneumothorax: etiology, incidence and risk factors. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009;57(5):286-290. PubMed
3. Hooper CE, Welham SA, Maskell NA, Soc BT. Pleural procedures and patient safety: a national BTS audit of practice. Thorax. 2015;70(2):189-191. PubMed
4. Diacon AH, Brutsche MH, Soler M. Accuracy of pleural puncture sites: a prospective comparison of clinical examination with ultrasound. Chest. 2003;123(2):436-441. PubMed
5. Patel IJ, Davidson JC, Nikolic B, et al. Consensus guidelines for periprocedural management of coagulation status and hemostasis risk in percutaneous image-guided interventions. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012;23(6):727-736. PubMed
6. Wraight WM, Tweedie DJ, Parkin IG. Neurovascular anatomy and variation in the fourth, fifth, and sixth intercostal spaces in the mid-axillary line: a cadaveric study in respect of chest drain insertion. Clin Anat. 2005;18(5):346-349. PubMed
7. Duncan DR, Morgenthaler TI, Ryu JH, Daniels CE. Reducing iatrogenic risk in thoracentesis: establishing best practice via experiential training in a zero-risk environment. Chest. 2009;135(5):1315-1320. PubMed
8. Grover S, Currier PF, Elinoff JM, Mouchantaf KJ, Katz JT, McMahon GT. Development of a test to evaluate residents' knowledge of medical procedures. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(7):430-432. PubMed
9. Promes SB, Chudgar SM, Grochowski CO, et al. Gaps in procedural experience and competency in medical school graduates. Acad Emerg Med. 2009;16 Suppl 2:S58-62. PubMed
10. Huang GC, Smith CC, Gordon CE, et al. Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures. Am J Med. 2006;119(1):71 e17-24. PubMed
11. Lagan J, Cutts L, Zaidi S, Benton I, Rylance J. Are we failing our trainees in providing opportunities to attain procedural confidence? Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2015;76(2):105-108. PubMed
12. Wayne DB, Barsuk JH, O'Leary KJ, Fudala MJ, McGaghie WC. Mastery learning of thoracentesis skills by internal medicine residents using simulation technology and deliberate practice. J Hosp Med. 2008;3(1):48-54. PubMed
13. Lenchus JD. End of the "see one, do one, teach one" era: the next generation of invasive bedside procedural instruction. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(6):340-346. PubMed
14. Lenchus J, Issenberg SB, Murphy D, et al. A blended approach to invasive bedside procedural instruction. Med Teach. 2011;33(2):116-123. PubMed
15. Jiang G, Chen H, Wang S, et al. Learning curves and long-term outcome of simulation-based thoracentesis training for medical students. BMC Med Educ. 2011;11:39. PubMed
16. Berg D, Berg K, Riesenberg LA, et al. The development of a validated checklist for thoracentesis: preliminary results. Am J Med Qual. 2013;28(3):220-226. PubMed
17. Salamonsen M, McGrath D, Steiler G, Ware R, Colt H, Fielding D. A new instrument to assess physician skill at thoracic ultrasound, including pleural effusion markup. Chest. 2013;144(3):930-934. PubMed
18. McVay PA, Toy PT. Lack of increased bleeding after paracentesis and thoracentesis in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities. Transfusion. 1991;31(2):164-171. PubMed
19. Havelock T, Teoh R, Laws D, Gleeson F, Group BTSPDG. Pleural procedures and thoracic ultrasound: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010;65 Suppl 2:ii61-76. PubMed
20. Ault MJ, Rosen BT, Scher J, Feinglass J, Barsuk JH. Thoracentesis outcomes: a 12-year experience. Thorax. 2015;70(2):127-132. PubMed
21. Puchalski J. Thoracentesis and the risks for bleeding: a new era. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2014;20(4):377-384. PubMed
22. Hibbert RM, Atwell TD, Lekah A, et al. Safety of ultrasound-guided thoracentesis in patients with abnormal preprocedural coagulation parameters. Chest. 2013;144(2):456-463. PubMed
23. Zalt MB, Bechara RI, Parks C, Berkowitz DM. Effect of routine clopidogrel use on bleeding complications after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2012;19(4):284-287. PubMed
24. Mahmood K, Shofer SL, Moser BK, Argento AC, Smathers EC, Wahidi MM. Hemorrhagic complications of thoracentesis and small-bore chest tube placement in patients taking clopidogrel. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2014;11(1):73-79. PubMed
25. Goligher EC, Leis JA, Fowler RA, Pinto R, Adhikari NK, Ferguson ND. Utility and safety of draining pleural effusions in mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2011;15(1):R46. PubMed
26. Fartoukh M, Azoulay E, Galliot R, et al. Clinically documented pleural effusions in medical ICU patients: how useful is routine thoracentesis? Chest. 2002;121(1):178-184. PubMed
27. Cervini P, Hesley GK, Thompson RL, Sampathkumar P, Knudsen JM. Incidence of infectious complications after an ultrasound-guided intervention. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010;195(4):846-850. PubMed
28. Mimoz O, Chopra V, Timsit JF. What's new in catheter-related infection: skin cleansing and skin antisepsis. Intensive Care Med. 2016;42(11):1784-1786. PubMed
29. Soni NJ, Franco R, Velez MI, et al. Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of pleural effusions. J Hosp Med. 2015;10(12):811-816. PubMed
30. Feller-Kopman D. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;129(6):1709-1714. PubMed
31. Shojaee S, Argento AC. Ultrasound-guided pleural access. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;35(6):693-705. PubMed
32. Gordon CE, Feller-Kopman D, Balk EM, Smetana GW. Pneumothorax following thoracentesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(4):332-339. PubMed
33. Perazzo A, Gatto P, Barlascini C, Ferrari-Bravo M, Nicolini A. Can ultrasound guidance reduce the risk of pneumothorax following thoracentesis? J Bras Pneumol. 2014;40(1):6-12. PubMed
34. Cavanna L, Mordenti P, Berte R, et al. Ultrasound guidance reduces pneumothorax rate and improves safety of thoracentesis in malignant pleural effusion: report on 445 consecutive patients with advanced cancer. World J Surg Oncol. 2014;12:139. PubMed
35. Soldati G, Smargiassi A, Inchingolo R, Sher S, Valente S, Corbo GM. Ultrasound-guided pleural puncture in supine or recumbent lateral position - feasibility study. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2013;8(1):18. PubMed
36. Pihlajamaa K, Bode MK, Puumalainen T, Lehtimaki A, Marjelund S, Tikkakoski T. Pneumothorax and the value of chest radiography after ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis. Acta Radiol. 2004;45(8):828-832. PubMed
37. Barnes TW, Morgenthaler TI, Olson EJ, Hesley GK, Decker PA, Ryu JH. Sonographically guided thoracentesis and rate of pneumothorax. J Clin Ultrasound. 2005;33(9):442-446. PubMed
38. Zanforlin A, Gavelli G, Oboldi D, Galletti S. Ultrasound-guided thoracenthesis: the V-point as a site for optimal drainage positioning. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(1):25-28. PubMed
39. Patel PA, Ernst FR, Gunnarsson CL. Ultrasonography guidance reduces complications and costs associated with thoracentesis procedures. J Clin Ultrasound. 2012;40(3):135-141. PubMed
40. Mercaldi CJ, Lanes SF. Ultrasound guidance decreases complications and improves the cost of care among patients undergoing thoracentesis and paracentesis. Chest. 2013;143(2):532-538. PubMed
41. Shurtleff E, Olinger A. Posterior intercostal artery tortuosity and collateral branch points: a cadaveric study. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2012;71(4):245-251. PubMed
42. Helm EJ, Rahman NM, Talakoub O, Fox DL, Gleeson FV. Course and variation of the intercostal artery by CT scan. Chest. 2013;143(3):634-639. PubMed
43. Yoneyama H, Arahata M, Temaru R, Ishizaka S, Minami S. Evaluation of the risk of intercostal artery laceration during thoracentesis in elderly patients by using 3D-CT angiography. Intern Med. 2010;49(4):289-292. PubMed
44. Salamonsen M, Ellis S, Paul E, Steinke K, Fielding D. Thoracic ultrasound demonstrates variable location of the intercostal artery. Respiration. 2012;83(4):323-329. PubMed
45. Salamonsen M, Dobeli K, McGrath D, et al. Physician-performed ultrasound can accurately screen for a vulnerable intercostal artery prior to chest drainage procedures. Respirology. 2013;18(6):942-947. PubMed
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47. Huggins JT, Doelken P. Pleural manometry. Clin Chest Med. 2006;27(2):229-240. PubMed
48. Echevarria C, Twomey D, Dunning J, Chanda B. Does re-expansion pulmonary oedema exist? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2008;7(3):485-489. PubMed
49. Sue RD, Matthay MA, Ware LB. Hydrostatic mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of human re-expansion pulmonary edema. Intensive Care Med. 2004;30(10):1921-1926. PubMed
50. Feller-Kopman D, Berkowitz D, Boiselle P, Ernst A. Large-volume thoracentesis and the risk of reexpansion pulmonary edema. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007;84(5):1656-1661. PubMed
51. Villena V, Lopez-Encuentra A, Pozo F, De-Pablo A, Martin-Escribano P. Measurement of pleural pressure during therapeutic thoracentesis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;162(4 Pt 1):1534-1538. PubMed
52. Doelken P, Huggins JT, Pastis NJ, Sahn SA. Pleural manometry: technique and clinical implications. Chest. 2004;126(6):1764-1769. PubMed
53. Feller-Kopman D. Therapeutic thoracentesis: the role of ultrasound and pleural manometry. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(4):312-318. PubMed
54. Boshuizen RC, Sinaasappel M, Vincent AD, Goldfinger V, Farag S, van den Heuvel MM. Pleural pressure swing and lung expansion after malignant pleural effusion drainage: the benefits of high-temporal resolution pleural manometry. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2013;20(3):200-205. PubMed
55. Pannu J, DePew ZS, Mullon JJ, Daniels CE, Hagen CE, Maldonado F. Impact of pleural manometry on the development of chest discomfort during thoracentesis: a symptom-based study. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2014;21(4):306-313. PubMed
56. Feller-Kopman D, Walkey A, Berkowitz D, Ernst A. The relationship of pleural pressure to symptom development during therapeutic thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;129(6):1556-1560. PubMed
57. Abunasser J, Brown R. Safety of large-volume thoracentesis. Conn Med. 2010;74(1):23-26. PubMed
58. Mynarek G, Brabrand K, Jakobsen JA, Kolbenstvedt A. Complications following ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis. Acta Radiol. 2004;45(5):519-522. PubMed
59. Josephson T, Nordenskjold CA, Larsson J, Rosenberg LU, Kaijser M. Amount drained at ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and risk of pneumothorax. Acta Radiol. 2009;50(1):42-47. PubMed
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62. Jones PW, Moyers JP, Rogers JT, Rodriguez RM, Lee YC, Light RW. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis: is it a safer method? Chest. 2003;123(2):418-423. PubMed
63. Petersen WG, Zimmerman R. Limited utility of chest radiograph after thoracentesis. Chest. 2000;117(4):1038-1042. PubMed
64. Sachdeva A, Shepherd RW, Lee HJ. Thoracentesis and thoracic ultrasound: state of the art in 2013. Clin Chest Med. 2013;34(1):1-9. PubMed
65. Shostak E, Brylka D, Krepp J, Pua B, Sanders A. Bedside sonography for detection of postprocedure pneumothorax. J Ultrasound Med. 2013;32(6):1003-1009. PubMed
1. Kasper DL. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education; 2015.
2. Celik B, Sahin E, Nadir A, Kaptanoglu M. Iatrogenic pneumothorax: etiology, incidence and risk factors. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009;57(5):286-290. PubMed
3. Hooper CE, Welham SA, Maskell NA, Soc BT. Pleural procedures and patient safety: a national BTS audit of practice. Thorax. 2015;70(2):189-191. PubMed
4. Diacon AH, Brutsche MH, Soler M. Accuracy of pleural puncture sites: a prospective comparison of clinical examination with ultrasound. Chest. 2003;123(2):436-441. PubMed
5. Patel IJ, Davidson JC, Nikolic B, et al. Consensus guidelines for periprocedural management of coagulation status and hemostasis risk in percutaneous image-guided interventions. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012;23(6):727-736. PubMed
6. Wraight WM, Tweedie DJ, Parkin IG. Neurovascular anatomy and variation in the fourth, fifth, and sixth intercostal spaces in the mid-axillary line: a cadaveric study in respect of chest drain insertion. Clin Anat. 2005;18(5):346-349. PubMed
7. Duncan DR, Morgenthaler TI, Ryu JH, Daniels CE. Reducing iatrogenic risk in thoracentesis: establishing best practice via experiential training in a zero-risk environment. Chest. 2009;135(5):1315-1320. PubMed
8. Grover S, Currier PF, Elinoff JM, Mouchantaf KJ, Katz JT, McMahon GT. Development of a test to evaluate residents' knowledge of medical procedures. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(7):430-432. PubMed
9. Promes SB, Chudgar SM, Grochowski CO, et al. Gaps in procedural experience and competency in medical school graduates. Acad Emerg Med. 2009;16 Suppl 2:S58-62. PubMed
10. Huang GC, Smith CC, Gordon CE, et al. Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures. Am J Med. 2006;119(1):71 e17-24. PubMed
11. Lagan J, Cutts L, Zaidi S, Benton I, Rylance J. Are we failing our trainees in providing opportunities to attain procedural confidence? Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2015;76(2):105-108. PubMed
12. Wayne DB, Barsuk JH, O'Leary KJ, Fudala MJ, McGaghie WC. Mastery learning of thoracentesis skills by internal medicine residents using simulation technology and deliberate practice. J Hosp Med. 2008;3(1):48-54. PubMed
13. Lenchus JD. End of the "see one, do one, teach one" era: the next generation of invasive bedside procedural instruction. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(6):340-346. PubMed
14. Lenchus J, Issenberg SB, Murphy D, et al. A blended approach to invasive bedside procedural instruction. Med Teach. 2011;33(2):116-123. PubMed
15. Jiang G, Chen H, Wang S, et al. Learning curves and long-term outcome of simulation-based thoracentesis training for medical students. BMC Med Educ. 2011;11:39. PubMed
16. Berg D, Berg K, Riesenberg LA, et al. The development of a validated checklist for thoracentesis: preliminary results. Am J Med Qual. 2013;28(3):220-226. PubMed
17. Salamonsen M, McGrath D, Steiler G, Ware R, Colt H, Fielding D. A new instrument to assess physician skill at thoracic ultrasound, including pleural effusion markup. Chest. 2013;144(3):930-934. PubMed
18. McVay PA, Toy PT. Lack of increased bleeding after paracentesis and thoracentesis in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities. Transfusion. 1991;31(2):164-171. PubMed
19. Havelock T, Teoh R, Laws D, Gleeson F, Group BTSPDG. Pleural procedures and thoracic ultrasound: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010;65 Suppl 2:ii61-76. PubMed
20. Ault MJ, Rosen BT, Scher J, Feinglass J, Barsuk JH. Thoracentesis outcomes: a 12-year experience. Thorax. 2015;70(2):127-132. PubMed
21. Puchalski J. Thoracentesis and the risks for bleeding: a new era. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2014;20(4):377-384. PubMed
22. Hibbert RM, Atwell TD, Lekah A, et al. Safety of ultrasound-guided thoracentesis in patients with abnormal preprocedural coagulation parameters. Chest. 2013;144(2):456-463. PubMed
23. Zalt MB, Bechara RI, Parks C, Berkowitz DM. Effect of routine clopidogrel use on bleeding complications after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2012;19(4):284-287. PubMed
24. Mahmood K, Shofer SL, Moser BK, Argento AC, Smathers EC, Wahidi MM. Hemorrhagic complications of thoracentesis and small-bore chest tube placement in patients taking clopidogrel. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2014;11(1):73-79. PubMed
25. Goligher EC, Leis JA, Fowler RA, Pinto R, Adhikari NK, Ferguson ND. Utility and safety of draining pleural effusions in mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2011;15(1):R46. PubMed
26. Fartoukh M, Azoulay E, Galliot R, et al. Clinically documented pleural effusions in medical ICU patients: how useful is routine thoracentesis? Chest. 2002;121(1):178-184. PubMed
27. Cervini P, Hesley GK, Thompson RL, Sampathkumar P, Knudsen JM. Incidence of infectious complications after an ultrasound-guided intervention. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010;195(4):846-850. PubMed
28. Mimoz O, Chopra V, Timsit JF. What's new in catheter-related infection: skin cleansing and skin antisepsis. Intensive Care Med. 2016;42(11):1784-1786. PubMed
29. Soni NJ, Franco R, Velez MI, et al. Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of pleural effusions. J Hosp Med. 2015;10(12):811-816. PubMed
30. Feller-Kopman D. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;129(6):1709-1714. PubMed
31. Shojaee S, Argento AC. Ultrasound-guided pleural access. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;35(6):693-705. PubMed
32. Gordon CE, Feller-Kopman D, Balk EM, Smetana GW. Pneumothorax following thoracentesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(4):332-339. PubMed
33. Perazzo A, Gatto P, Barlascini C, Ferrari-Bravo M, Nicolini A. Can ultrasound guidance reduce the risk of pneumothorax following thoracentesis? J Bras Pneumol. 2014;40(1):6-12. PubMed
34. Cavanna L, Mordenti P, Berte R, et al. Ultrasound guidance reduces pneumothorax rate and improves safety of thoracentesis in malignant pleural effusion: report on 445 consecutive patients with advanced cancer. World J Surg Oncol. 2014;12:139. PubMed
35. Soldati G, Smargiassi A, Inchingolo R, Sher S, Valente S, Corbo GM. Ultrasound-guided pleural puncture in supine or recumbent lateral position - feasibility study. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2013;8(1):18. PubMed
36. Pihlajamaa K, Bode MK, Puumalainen T, Lehtimaki A, Marjelund S, Tikkakoski T. Pneumothorax and the value of chest radiography after ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis. Acta Radiol. 2004;45(8):828-832. PubMed
37. Barnes TW, Morgenthaler TI, Olson EJ, Hesley GK, Decker PA, Ryu JH. Sonographically guided thoracentesis and rate of pneumothorax. J Clin Ultrasound. 2005;33(9):442-446. PubMed
38. Zanforlin A, Gavelli G, Oboldi D, Galletti S. Ultrasound-guided thoracenthesis: the V-point as a site for optimal drainage positioning. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(1):25-28. PubMed
39. Patel PA, Ernst FR, Gunnarsson CL. Ultrasonography guidance reduces complications and costs associated with thoracentesis procedures. J Clin Ultrasound. 2012;40(3):135-141. PubMed
40. Mercaldi CJ, Lanes SF. Ultrasound guidance decreases complications and improves the cost of care among patients undergoing thoracentesis and paracentesis. Chest. 2013;143(2):532-538. PubMed
41. Shurtleff E, Olinger A. Posterior intercostal artery tortuosity and collateral branch points: a cadaveric study. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2012;71(4):245-251. PubMed
42. Helm EJ, Rahman NM, Talakoub O, Fox DL, Gleeson FV. Course and variation of the intercostal artery by CT scan. Chest. 2013;143(3):634-639. PubMed
43. Yoneyama H, Arahata M, Temaru R, Ishizaka S, Minami S. Evaluation of the risk of intercostal artery laceration during thoracentesis in elderly patients by using 3D-CT angiography. Intern Med. 2010;49(4):289-292. PubMed
44. Salamonsen M, Ellis S, Paul E, Steinke K, Fielding D. Thoracic ultrasound demonstrates variable location of the intercostal artery. Respiration. 2012;83(4):323-329. PubMed
45. Salamonsen M, Dobeli K, McGrath D, et al. Physician-performed ultrasound can accurately screen for a vulnerable intercostal artery prior to chest drainage procedures. Respirology. 2013;18(6):942-947. PubMed
46. Grippi MA. Fishman's pulmonary diseases and disorders. Fifth edition. ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015.
47. Huggins JT, Doelken P. Pleural manometry. Clin Chest Med. 2006;27(2):229-240. PubMed
48. Echevarria C, Twomey D, Dunning J, Chanda B. Does re-expansion pulmonary oedema exist? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2008;7(3):485-489. PubMed
49. Sue RD, Matthay MA, Ware LB. Hydrostatic mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of human re-expansion pulmonary edema. Intensive Care Med. 2004;30(10):1921-1926. PubMed
50. Feller-Kopman D, Berkowitz D, Boiselle P, Ernst A. Large-volume thoracentesis and the risk of reexpansion pulmonary edema. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007;84(5):1656-1661. PubMed
51. Villena V, Lopez-Encuentra A, Pozo F, De-Pablo A, Martin-Escribano P. Measurement of pleural pressure during therapeutic thoracentesis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;162(4 Pt 1):1534-1538. PubMed
52. Doelken P, Huggins JT, Pastis NJ, Sahn SA. Pleural manometry: technique and clinical implications. Chest. 2004;126(6):1764-1769. PubMed
53. Feller-Kopman D. Therapeutic thoracentesis: the role of ultrasound and pleural manometry. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(4):312-318. PubMed
54. Boshuizen RC, Sinaasappel M, Vincent AD, Goldfinger V, Farag S, van den Heuvel MM. Pleural pressure swing and lung expansion after malignant pleural effusion drainage: the benefits of high-temporal resolution pleural manometry. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2013;20(3):200-205. PubMed
55. Pannu J, DePew ZS, Mullon JJ, Daniels CE, Hagen CE, Maldonado F. Impact of pleural manometry on the development of chest discomfort during thoracentesis: a symptom-based study. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2014;21(4):306-313. PubMed
56. Feller-Kopman D, Walkey A, Berkowitz D, Ernst A. The relationship of pleural pressure to symptom development during therapeutic thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;129(6):1556-1560. PubMed
57. Abunasser J, Brown R. Safety of large-volume thoracentesis. Conn Med. 2010;74(1):23-26. PubMed
58. Mynarek G, Brabrand K, Jakobsen JA, Kolbenstvedt A. Complications following ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis. Acta Radiol. 2004;45(5):519-522. PubMed
59. Josephson T, Nordenskjold CA, Larsson J, Rosenberg LU, Kaijser M. Amount drained at ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and risk of pneumothorax. Acta Radiol. 2009;50(1):42-47. PubMed
60. Heidecker J, Huggins JT, Sahn SA, Doelken P. Pathophysiology of pneumothorax following ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Chest. 2006;130(4):1173-1184. PubMed
61. Sokolowski JW Jr, Burgher LW, Jones FL Jr, Patterson JR, Selecky PA. Guidelines for thoracentesis and needle biopsy of the pleura. This position paper of the American Thoracic Society was adopted by the ATS Board of Directors, June 1988. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;140(1):257-258. PubMed
62. Jones PW, Moyers JP, Rogers JT, Rodriguez RM, Lee YC, Light RW. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis: is it a safer method? Chest. 2003;123(2):418-423. PubMed
63. Petersen WG, Zimmerman R. Limited utility of chest radiograph after thoracentesis. Chest. 2000;117(4):1038-1042. PubMed
64. Sachdeva A, Shepherd RW, Lee HJ. Thoracentesis and thoracic ultrasound: state of the art in 2013. Clin Chest Med. 2013;34(1):1-9. PubMed
65. Shostak E, Brylka D, Krepp J, Pua B, Sanders A. Bedside sonography for detection of postprocedure pneumothorax. J Ultrasound Med. 2013;32(6):1003-1009. PubMed
© 2017 Society of Hospital Medicine
Resident SBML for Thoracentesis
There has been a nationwide shift away from general internists performing bedside thoracenteses and toward referring them to pulmonology and interventional radiology services.[1] Aligning with this trend, the American Board of Internal Medicine now only requires that internal medicine (IM)trained physicians understand the indications, complications, and management of bedside procedures.[2]
However, thoracentesis is still considered a core competency of practicing hospitalists, the fastest growing field within general IM.[3] Furthermore, evidence suggests that thoracenteses done by general internists have high patient satisfaction, reduce hospital length of stay, are more cost‐effective, and are as safe as those done by consultants.[4, 5, 6] It is thus important to understand the reasons for referrals to specialty services and to investigate potential interventions that increase performance of procedures by internists.
In this issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine, Barsuk and colleagues present a prospective, single‐center study assessing the impact of simulation‐based mastery learning (SBML) on thoracentesis among a randomly selected group of IM residents.[7] They studied how their program influenced simulated skills, procedural self‐confidence, frequency of real‐world performance, and rate and reasons for referral to consultants. The authors compared the latter outcomes to traditionally trained residents and hospitalists, finding that SBML improved skills, self‐confidence, and the relative frequency of general internistperformed procedures. Low confidence and limited time were the primary reasons for referral.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that SBML can lead to a clinically and statistically significant change in thoracentesis referral patterns, which may have important implications for hospitalists. Given the inconsistent amount and quality of procedural training across IM residency programs, hospitalists may be increasingly ill prepared to perform thoracentesis and train future generations in its best practices.[2, 8, 9] This study demonstrates that SBML can provide trainees with essential hands‐on skills development and experience that is often missing from traditional training models.
Yet, although SBML seems to affect resident referral patterns, its potential impact on practicing hospitalists is less clear. Hospitalists provide the majority of care for general medicine inpatients around the country, and in this study had a dramatically lower rate of bedside procedure performance than even traditionally trained residents (0.7% vs 14.2$), which makes them vital to any strategy to increase bedside thoracentesis rates.[9] Yet the results by Barsuk et al. suggest that the effect size of SBML on hospitalists may be much smaller than on trainees. First, the primary driver of resident practice change appeared to be increased confidence, but baseline hospitalist confidence was significantly greater than that of traditionally trained residents. Second, it is unclear what, if any, effect SBML would have on the time needed to perform a thoracentesis, which was a major factor for hospitalists referring to consult services. Lastly, given the known decrement in procedural skills over time, the durability and associated costs of longitudinal SBML training are unknown.[10, 11, 12]
The fact that general internistperformed thoracenteses are as safe and more cost‐effective than those performed by consultants is a compelling argument to shift procedures back to the bedside. However, these cost analyses do not account for the opportunity cost for hospitalists, either in lost time spent caring for additional patients or in longer shift lengths. It is important to understand whether and how it can be feasible for general internists to perform more bedside thoracenteses so physician training and resource utilization can be optimized. Whereas confidence and time are likely limiting factors for all general internists, this study suggests that their relative importance may markedly differ between residents and hospitalists, and it is unclear how much the change in confidence resulting from SBML would affect the rates of thoracentesis by generalists beyond practice settings involving trainees. The feasibility, cost, and efficacy of SBML deserve more study in multiple clinical environments to understand its true impact. Ultimately, we suspect that only an intervention addressing procedural time demands will lead to meaningful, sustained increases in general internistperformed thoracenteses.
- , . The declining number and variety of procedures done by general internists: a resurvey of members of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(5):355–360.
- American Board of Internal Medicine. Internal medicine policies. Available at: http://www.abim.org/certification/policies/internal‐medicine‐subspecialty‐policies/internal‐medicine.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- Society of Hospital Medicine. SHM core competencies. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/Web/Education/Core_Competencies/Web/Education/Core_Competencies.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Patient satisfaction with a hospitalist procedure service: is bedside procedure teaching reassuring to patients? J Hosp Med. 2011;6(4):219–224.
- , , , , . Factors associated with inpatient thoracentesis procedure quality at university hospitals. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016;42(1):34–40.
- , , , , . Thoracentesis outcomes: a 12‐year experience. Thorax. 2015;70(2):127–132.
- , , , et al. The effect of simulation‐based mastery learning on thoracentesis referral patterns. J Hosp Med. 2016;11(11):792–795.
- . What we know about hospitalists. Innovative Thinking website. Available at: http://innovativesolutions.org/innovative‐thinking/what‐we‐know‐about‐hospitalists. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Procedural skills training in internal medicine residencies. A survey of program directors. Ann intern Med. 1989;111(11):932–938.
- , , , et al. Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures. Am J Med. 2006;119(1):71:e17–e24.
- . Deliberate practice and the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and related domains. Acad Med. 2004;79(10 suppl):S70–S81
- , , , et al. Simulation training and its effect on long‐term resident performance in central venous catheterization. Simul Healthc. 2010;5(3):146–151.
There has been a nationwide shift away from general internists performing bedside thoracenteses and toward referring them to pulmonology and interventional radiology services.[1] Aligning with this trend, the American Board of Internal Medicine now only requires that internal medicine (IM)trained physicians understand the indications, complications, and management of bedside procedures.[2]
However, thoracentesis is still considered a core competency of practicing hospitalists, the fastest growing field within general IM.[3] Furthermore, evidence suggests that thoracenteses done by general internists have high patient satisfaction, reduce hospital length of stay, are more cost‐effective, and are as safe as those done by consultants.[4, 5, 6] It is thus important to understand the reasons for referrals to specialty services and to investigate potential interventions that increase performance of procedures by internists.
In this issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine, Barsuk and colleagues present a prospective, single‐center study assessing the impact of simulation‐based mastery learning (SBML) on thoracentesis among a randomly selected group of IM residents.[7] They studied how their program influenced simulated skills, procedural self‐confidence, frequency of real‐world performance, and rate and reasons for referral to consultants. The authors compared the latter outcomes to traditionally trained residents and hospitalists, finding that SBML improved skills, self‐confidence, and the relative frequency of general internistperformed procedures. Low confidence and limited time were the primary reasons for referral.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that SBML can lead to a clinically and statistically significant change in thoracentesis referral patterns, which may have important implications for hospitalists. Given the inconsistent amount and quality of procedural training across IM residency programs, hospitalists may be increasingly ill prepared to perform thoracentesis and train future generations in its best practices.[2, 8, 9] This study demonstrates that SBML can provide trainees with essential hands‐on skills development and experience that is often missing from traditional training models.
Yet, although SBML seems to affect resident referral patterns, its potential impact on practicing hospitalists is less clear. Hospitalists provide the majority of care for general medicine inpatients around the country, and in this study had a dramatically lower rate of bedside procedure performance than even traditionally trained residents (0.7% vs 14.2$), which makes them vital to any strategy to increase bedside thoracentesis rates.[9] Yet the results by Barsuk et al. suggest that the effect size of SBML on hospitalists may be much smaller than on trainees. First, the primary driver of resident practice change appeared to be increased confidence, but baseline hospitalist confidence was significantly greater than that of traditionally trained residents. Second, it is unclear what, if any, effect SBML would have on the time needed to perform a thoracentesis, which was a major factor for hospitalists referring to consult services. Lastly, given the known decrement in procedural skills over time, the durability and associated costs of longitudinal SBML training are unknown.[10, 11, 12]
The fact that general internistperformed thoracenteses are as safe and more cost‐effective than those performed by consultants is a compelling argument to shift procedures back to the bedside. However, these cost analyses do not account for the opportunity cost for hospitalists, either in lost time spent caring for additional patients or in longer shift lengths. It is important to understand whether and how it can be feasible for general internists to perform more bedside thoracenteses so physician training and resource utilization can be optimized. Whereas confidence and time are likely limiting factors for all general internists, this study suggests that their relative importance may markedly differ between residents and hospitalists, and it is unclear how much the change in confidence resulting from SBML would affect the rates of thoracentesis by generalists beyond practice settings involving trainees. The feasibility, cost, and efficacy of SBML deserve more study in multiple clinical environments to understand its true impact. Ultimately, we suspect that only an intervention addressing procedural time demands will lead to meaningful, sustained increases in general internistperformed thoracenteses.
There has been a nationwide shift away from general internists performing bedside thoracenteses and toward referring them to pulmonology and interventional radiology services.[1] Aligning with this trend, the American Board of Internal Medicine now only requires that internal medicine (IM)trained physicians understand the indications, complications, and management of bedside procedures.[2]
However, thoracentesis is still considered a core competency of practicing hospitalists, the fastest growing field within general IM.[3] Furthermore, evidence suggests that thoracenteses done by general internists have high patient satisfaction, reduce hospital length of stay, are more cost‐effective, and are as safe as those done by consultants.[4, 5, 6] It is thus important to understand the reasons for referrals to specialty services and to investigate potential interventions that increase performance of procedures by internists.
In this issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine, Barsuk and colleagues present a prospective, single‐center study assessing the impact of simulation‐based mastery learning (SBML) on thoracentesis among a randomly selected group of IM residents.[7] They studied how their program influenced simulated skills, procedural self‐confidence, frequency of real‐world performance, and rate and reasons for referral to consultants. The authors compared the latter outcomes to traditionally trained residents and hospitalists, finding that SBML improved skills, self‐confidence, and the relative frequency of general internistperformed procedures. Low confidence and limited time were the primary reasons for referral.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that SBML can lead to a clinically and statistically significant change in thoracentesis referral patterns, which may have important implications for hospitalists. Given the inconsistent amount and quality of procedural training across IM residency programs, hospitalists may be increasingly ill prepared to perform thoracentesis and train future generations in its best practices.[2, 8, 9] This study demonstrates that SBML can provide trainees with essential hands‐on skills development and experience that is often missing from traditional training models.
Yet, although SBML seems to affect resident referral patterns, its potential impact on practicing hospitalists is less clear. Hospitalists provide the majority of care for general medicine inpatients around the country, and in this study had a dramatically lower rate of bedside procedure performance than even traditionally trained residents (0.7% vs 14.2$), which makes them vital to any strategy to increase bedside thoracentesis rates.[9] Yet the results by Barsuk et al. suggest that the effect size of SBML on hospitalists may be much smaller than on trainees. First, the primary driver of resident practice change appeared to be increased confidence, but baseline hospitalist confidence was significantly greater than that of traditionally trained residents. Second, it is unclear what, if any, effect SBML would have on the time needed to perform a thoracentesis, which was a major factor for hospitalists referring to consult services. Lastly, given the known decrement in procedural skills over time, the durability and associated costs of longitudinal SBML training are unknown.[10, 11, 12]
The fact that general internistperformed thoracenteses are as safe and more cost‐effective than those performed by consultants is a compelling argument to shift procedures back to the bedside. However, these cost analyses do not account for the opportunity cost for hospitalists, either in lost time spent caring for additional patients or in longer shift lengths. It is important to understand whether and how it can be feasible for general internists to perform more bedside thoracenteses so physician training and resource utilization can be optimized. Whereas confidence and time are likely limiting factors for all general internists, this study suggests that their relative importance may markedly differ between residents and hospitalists, and it is unclear how much the change in confidence resulting from SBML would affect the rates of thoracentesis by generalists beyond practice settings involving trainees. The feasibility, cost, and efficacy of SBML deserve more study in multiple clinical environments to understand its true impact. Ultimately, we suspect that only an intervention addressing procedural time demands will lead to meaningful, sustained increases in general internistperformed thoracenteses.
- , . The declining number and variety of procedures done by general internists: a resurvey of members of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(5):355–360.
- American Board of Internal Medicine. Internal medicine policies. Available at: http://www.abim.org/certification/policies/internal‐medicine‐subspecialty‐policies/internal‐medicine.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- Society of Hospital Medicine. SHM core competencies. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/Web/Education/Core_Competencies/Web/Education/Core_Competencies.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Patient satisfaction with a hospitalist procedure service: is bedside procedure teaching reassuring to patients? J Hosp Med. 2011;6(4):219–224.
- , , , , . Factors associated with inpatient thoracentesis procedure quality at university hospitals. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016;42(1):34–40.
- , , , , . Thoracentesis outcomes: a 12‐year experience. Thorax. 2015;70(2):127–132.
- , , , et al. The effect of simulation‐based mastery learning on thoracentesis referral patterns. J Hosp Med. 2016;11(11):792–795.
- . What we know about hospitalists. Innovative Thinking website. Available at: http://innovativesolutions.org/innovative‐thinking/what‐we‐know‐about‐hospitalists. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Procedural skills training in internal medicine residencies. A survey of program directors. Ann intern Med. 1989;111(11):932–938.
- , , , et al. Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures. Am J Med. 2006;119(1):71:e17–e24.
- . Deliberate practice and the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and related domains. Acad Med. 2004;79(10 suppl):S70–S81
- , , , et al. Simulation training and its effect on long‐term resident performance in central venous catheterization. Simul Healthc. 2010;5(3):146–151.
- , . The declining number and variety of procedures done by general internists: a resurvey of members of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(5):355–360.
- American Board of Internal Medicine. Internal medicine policies. Available at: http://www.abim.org/certification/policies/internal‐medicine‐subspecialty‐policies/internal‐medicine.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- Society of Hospital Medicine. SHM core competencies. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/Web/Education/Core_Competencies/Web/Education/Core_Competencies.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Patient satisfaction with a hospitalist procedure service: is bedside procedure teaching reassuring to patients? J Hosp Med. 2011;6(4):219–224.
- , , , , . Factors associated with inpatient thoracentesis procedure quality at university hospitals. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016;42(1):34–40.
- , , , , . Thoracentesis outcomes: a 12‐year experience. Thorax. 2015;70(2):127–132.
- , , , et al. The effect of simulation‐based mastery learning on thoracentesis referral patterns. J Hosp Med. 2016;11(11):792–795.
- . What we know about hospitalists. Innovative Thinking website. Available at: http://innovativesolutions.org/innovative‐thinking/what‐we‐know‐about‐hospitalists. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- , , , . Procedural skills training in internal medicine residencies. A survey of program directors. Ann intern Med. 1989;111(11):932–938.
- , , , et al. Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures. Am J Med. 2006;119(1):71:e17–e24.
- . Deliberate practice and the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and related domains. Acad Med. 2004;79(10 suppl):S70–S81
- , , , et al. Simulation training and its effect on long‐term resident performance in central venous catheterization. Simul Healthc. 2010;5(3):146–151.