 Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \Tho`ra*cen*te"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? thorax + ?
pricking, from ? to prick, stab.] (Surg.)
The operation of puncturing the chest wall so as to let out
liquids contained in the cavity of the chest.
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| Medical Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
- Removal of fluid from the pleural cavity through a needle inserted between the ribs.
- Removal of fluid in the pleura through a needle.
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| Biology Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | Thoracentesis is a procedure to drain fluid from the pleural space of the lungs. It is usually done by inserting a needle in the intercostal space until it just punctures the pleura. The purpose of performing thoracentesis is twofold: to remove the fluid which causes collapse of the lung and to obtain sample from the fluid so that it can be analyzed. |
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