[Ultrasound-guided aspiration of pleural fluid].

We review the outcome of guided, percutaneous, catheter drainage of pleural collections in 102 patients over a 2-year period. In 87% diagnostic aspiration of small or loculated collections was performed. Drainage of malignant and nonmalignant effusions in high-risk patients, or after failure of drainage without imaging guidance, was performed in 13%. All aspirations were successful and the only complication was a small pneumothorax in a single …