Ultrasound-guided Pleural Effusion Drainage With a Small Catheter Using the Single-step Trocar or Modified Seldinger Technique

journals.lww.com February 8, 2019

Ultrasound-guided pleural effusion drainage by catheter insertion is a safe and effective procedure. The success rate is low when the effusion is loculated and septated. Both the trocar and the modified Seldinger techniques can be used. The trocar technique is faster and easier. Technical success was obtained in 96% for the trocar technique and in 100% for the modified Seldinger technique. The procedure time for the trocar and the modified Seldinger techniques was approximately 7 and 12 minutes, respectively. A total of 124 patients (83 men and 41 women), with mean age of 46±18 years and mean duration of drainage 5.3±2 days, were included in the study.