The use of ultrasound guidance for thoracentesis has been associated with increased success rates and decreased complication rates. Ultrasound can be used to estimate the pleural fluid volume, characterize the effusion as simple or complex, identify an optimal needle insertion site, and reduce the need for postprocedural chest radiographs. Training and experience are essential to reap the benefits of using ultrasound for thoracentesis, although our understanding of optimal educational strategies and learning curves is limited. Once training has occurred and competence is achieved, hospitalists can perform ultrasound-guided thoracentesis as safely as radiologists, pulmonologists, and other specialists.

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