- Patient preparation: check PT and PTT and platelets and Hgb, obtain informed consent, sedation per clinical service
- Technique:
— Sterile prep and drape, place sterile cover on transducer
— Using real-time ultrasound guidance, insert a 20-22 gauge catheter into the pleural collection and aspirate the fluid
— Give sample to clinical team - Images to obtain: transverse and sagittal grayscale images of chest
- Looking for: needle in pleural fluid
- Post procedure tasks: PA expiratory CXR to rule out pneumothorax
Pediatric Imaging 