Mesothelioma thoracentesis is a surgical procedure by which the build-up of fluid from the pleural space is extracted. This procedure was developed through years of research, and has led to an easier of diagnosing the patient. It is a less invasive maneuver by the use of long, thin needle, inserted into the body through a small incision that was previously disinfected and an anesthetic is used to numb the area. Usually the needle is inserted between the ribs, in the back of the patient because it is easier to reach the problematic areas.
Mesothelioma thoracentesis requires an x-ray of the chest area to be made prior of the insertion of the needle. This helps doctors determine the extent of the damage done by the mesothelial cells, decide whether or not chemotherapy should already be used, and establish which is the best point to perform the insertion. The needle or catheter used during thoracentesis is linked to a vacuum machine which aspirates the fluid between the lungs and pleura.
Types of Mesothelioma thoracentesis
Mesothelioma thoracentesis surgery is performed with two basic purposes:
- Extracting the build-up of fluid from the pleura (which causes the patient a lot of pain in the abdominal and chest areas)
- It is an essential diagnostic tool ( with the use of a small camera, doctors can actually see how far the cancer has spread and into which parts and organs of the body, providing with a very accurate diagnosis)
Mesothelioma thoracentesis is not a cure, but a surgery option for patients that urgently need relieve of pain and a correct diagnose after the asbestos has already started to spread. Thoracentesis surgery is usually performed in the early stages of mesothelioma cancer, and it can be done several times if the fluid keeps building up and causing the patient to suffer from extreme pain.
Doctors recommend mesothelioma thoracentesis to patients whenever they need it, and that is because recovery is very fast, and the damage the procedure does is minimal, so there are only upsides to thoracentesis surgery. It can be performed in special mesothelioma cancer centers, or doctors offices and it usually covered by insurance because it’s considered to be part of the treatment process of mesothelioma.
Get mesothelioma thoracentesis surgery
If experience extreme pain, or unsure about the doctors first diagnosis and would like to have thoracentesis to further detail the initial diagnosis, you can freely contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers and we will tell you all you need to know about thoracentesis surgery and other treatment options.