Risks and precautions Collapsed lung, infection, or pain at the site of the test. Patient preparation You remove all clothing from the waist up and don a hospital gown. Equipment used Needle, local anesthetics, and sometimes ultrasound or CT guidance equipment. The doctor examines your chest to locate excess pleural fluid. Ultrasound or a CT scan may be used if localization is difficult or if the amount of fluid is small.
Local anesthesia is administered at the site of the test.
The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. After the test After the Test Pressure is applied to the puncture site to prevent bleeding. Results available when 1-2 days. The number and type of cells in the fluid, as well as the levels of glucose, acid, and various proteins, help establish whether the excess fluid is a result of infection, cancer, or other lung disease, or a complication of another disease such as congestive heart failure. It's less invasive than open surgery.