What is the Difference Between Paracentesis and Thoracentesis

Paracentesis and thoracentesis are two procedures for removing fluid build-up in the body. Fluid accumulation in the body can happen due to different underlying conditions, such as congestive heart failure and lung disorders.  The excess fluid can cause swelling in the body parts and should be removed surgically.

The key difference between paracentesis and thoracentesis is their function. Paracentesis removes fluid from the abdominal cavity, while thoracentesis removes fluid from the pleural cavity.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Paracentesis 
3. What is Thoracentesis
4. Similarities – Paracentesis and Thoracentesis
5. Paracentesis vs Thoracentesis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Paracentesis vs Thoracentesis
7. FAQ: Paracentesis and Thoracentesis

What is Paracentesis?

Paracentesis refers to removing fluid from the abdominal cavity and is a procedure performed in patients with ascites. During this procedure, a needle is inserted into the peritoneal cavity to obtain ascitic fluid. Paracentesis is mainly of two types: diagnostic and therapeutic.

After obtaining fluid, the ascitic fluid is used to diagnose the aetiology of ascites or to rule out an infection of peritoneal fluid. This is known as diagnostic paracentesis. Therapeutic paracentesis can relieve symptoms of ascites as it removes the fluid completely from the abdominal cavity. Paracentesis takes from 20 to 45 minutes to complete. Furthermore, paracentesis can result in complications like infection, ongoing fluid leakage at the wound site, needle piercing the bowel, bladder, or blood vessel, internal bleeding or blood clots, and low blood pressure.

What is Thoracentesis?

Thoracentesis is a procedure that removes the fluid from around the lungs. It is also known as pleural tap, needle thoracostomy, or needle decompression. Thoracentesis treats pleural effusion. In this procedure, a needle is put through the chest wall into the pleural space to remove the excess fluid.

Thoracentesis takes 15 minutes to complete in hospital setups. Furthermore, risks of thoracentesis may include air in the space between the pleural space, which causes the lung to collapse, bleeding, infection, liver or spleen injury.

Similarities Between Paracentesis and Thoracentesis

1. Paracentesis and thoracentesis are two procedures for removing fluid build-up in the body.
2. Paracentesis and thoracentesis are two invasive medical procedures.
3. Both these procedures can be completed within a short period of time and relieve symptoms in the patients.
4. Both these procedures may have some associated risks.

Difference Between Paracentesis and Thoracentesis

Definition

1. Paracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity.
2. Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from around the lungs or pleural cavity.

Commonness

1. Paracentesis is comparatively less common.
2. Thoracentesis is comparatively more common.

Method

1. During paracentesis, a needle is inserted into the peritoneal cavity to obtain ascitic fluid.
2. During thoracentesis, a needle is inserted into the pleural space or cavity to obtain excess fluid.

Time Taken

1. Paracentesis takes 20 to 45 minutes.
2. Thoracentesis takes 15 minutes.

Benefits

1. Paracentesis helps to relieve symptoms from ascites and helps to diagnose conditions such as cirrhosis, portal hypotension, infection, cancer, and organ failure.
2. Thoracentesis helps to relive symptoms from pleural effusion ad help to diagnose conditions such as congestive heart failure, viral, fungal or bacterial infections, cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, reactions to medicines, lupus, pancreatitis, embolism, and emphysema.

Risks Associated

1. Risks associated with paracentesis include bleeding, damage to nearby organs, peritonitis, low blood pressure, leaking of fluid where the needle/catheter was inserted, allergic reactions to equipment, materials, or medications, and infection of the puncture site.
2. Risks associated with thoracentesis include bleeding, infection, collapsed lungs, and pulmonary edema.

The following table summarizes the difference between paracentesis and thoracentesis.

Summary – Paracentesis vs Thoracentesis

Both paracentesis and thoracentesis are two invasive medical procedures that remove excess fluid from the tissues in the body. Paracentesis is a procedure to drain fluid from the abdominal cavity while thoracentesis is a procedure to drain fluid from around the lungs in the pleural space. This is the basic difference between paracentesis and thoracentesis.

FAQ: Paracentesis and Thoracentesis

1. How is paracentesis performed?

• A paracentesis is a medical procedure that uses a needle or plastic tube to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity. A paracentesis can also be called an abdominal tap.

2. What are the risks of paracentesis?

• The risks associated with this procedure may include pain or discomfort at the needle insertion site, bleeding at the site, internal bleeding, injury to a blood vessel, organ puncture, and infection.

3. How much fluid is removed during paracentesis?

• For therapeutic paracentesis, the amount of fluid depends on how much excess fluid people have and whether the patient has a history of fluid returning. Often, 5 liters of fluid is removed to relieve abdominal pressure from ascites.

4. What is the purpose of thoracentesis?

• Thoracentesis is a medical procedure a healthcare provider uses to drain extra fluid from around the lungs or pleural space with a needle. It’s used to relieve that arise from the pleural effusion and to diagnose certain underline conditions such as congestive heart failure, infections, cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, reactions to medicines, lupus, pancreatitis, embolism, and emphysema.

5. What is the most common complication of thoracentesis?

• Pneumothorax or collapsed lungs is the most common complication of thoracentesis. The other complications include bleeding, infection, and pulmonary edema.

Reference:

1. “Thoracentesis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2. “Paracentesis: What It Is, Procedure & Complications.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Paracentesis hus” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Blausen 0004 AbdominalParacentesi” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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