Thoracentesis Course

Thoracentesis is a procedure to aspirate pleural fluid from the pleural space.  A diagnostic thoracentesis can be performed to determine the etiology of pleural effusions or to determine if the patient has infected pleural fluid, or a therapeutic thoracentesis can be performed to drain a symptomatic pleural effusion.  The thoracentesis course uses advanced ultrasound-compatible simulators and Saf-T-centesis kits to train clinicians how to perform a landmark-guided thoracentesis or an ultrasound-guided thoracentesis.  This course also teaches students how to manage thoracentesis complications and how to perform pleural fluid analysis.

Our thoracentesis training is a component of our live Hospitalist and Emergency Procedures CME course which teaches clinicians how to perform the 20 most essential procedures needed to work in the ER, ICU, and hospital wards.

CLICK HERE to find out more about our premier live Hospitalist and Emergency Procedures CME course

Register Now

Thoracentesis Lab Photos

Thoracentesis Course

Thoracentesis Video

Buy Full-Length Video

Thoracentesis Course trains students in:

  • Indications for a Thoracentesis
  • Contraindications for a Thoracentesis
  • Complications of a Thoracentesis
  • Equipment for a Thoracentesis
  • Proper positioning and technique for a Thoracentesis
  • Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis
  • Thoracentesis troubleshooting
  • Pleural fluid analysis
  • Coding for a Thoracentesis

Thoracentesis Photos

Thoracentesis Reference Card

Buy Now

Thoracentesis Blogs

Management of Pleural Infections

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
Chest tube, chest tube placement, chest tube size, chest tubes, empyema, Featured, parapneumonic effusion, pleural effusions, pleural fluid analysis, Pleural space, pneumonia, Thoracentesis, Tube Thoracostomy
Complicated parapneumonic effusions frequently represent pleural space infections. Approximately 1 in 7 cases of pneumonia have an associated parapneumonic effusion (PPE) on chest x-ray. Most of these effusions are small and usually resolve spontaneously with prompt antibiotic administration. However, moderate-to-large…
Read More

Summary of Difficult Airway Management in COVID-19 Patients

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
Airway management, COVID, difficult airway, difficult airway management, Difficult Intubation, Difficult LMA, direct laryngoscopy, emergent intubation, Endotracheal Intubation, Featured, Intubation, noninvasive ventilation, NPPV, supraglottic airway, supraglottic airways, video laryngoscopy, Videolaryngoscopy
The Society of Airway Management recently issued guidelines for Difficult Airway Management in COVID-19 patients.  The SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus is extremely contagious via respiratory droplets and therefore extra precautions are needed for airway management in severe COVID-19 infection.  Airway…
Read More

Video laryngoscopy has a superior first pass success rate compared with direct laryngoscopy in the ICU

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
Airway management, direct laryngoscopy, emergency procedures, Endotracheal Intubation, Featured Procedure, Glidescope Intubation, HPC Updates, Intubation, Procedure Blog of the Week, video laryngoscopy
Video laryngoscopy is superior to direct laryngoscopy for emergency intubations in the ICU. A recent meta-analysis based on nine trials evaluated 2,133 ICU patients and concluded that video laryngoscopy (VL) has a higher first pass success rate compared to direct…
Read More
Lumbar Puncture CME

Incidence of Spinal Hematoma from Lumbar Punctures in Patients with a Coagulopathy or Thrombocytopenia

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
ACLS, coagulopathy, epidural hematoma, Featured, Lumbar Puncture, thrombocytopenia
A recent cohort study using the Danish nationwide medical registry demonstrates that the incidence of a spinal or epidural hematoma from lumbar punctures in patients with pre-existing thrombocytopenia (Platelets<150 K) or coagulopathy (INR>1.4 or aPTT>39 seconds) is not significantly higher…
Read More

Hospitalist and Emergency Procedures CME Courses Available

Register HERE 21 days before the course to SAVE $50-150 and get the following:

  1. 12 month online access to Online CME course, procedure video bundle, instructional posters
  2. Indefinite online access to PDFs of all course lectures, course handouts, and HPC Adult Critical Care and Emergency Drug Reference Drug
Menu