# Ultrasound-guided Pleural Drainage PLEFF

- Link: https://sifsof.com/clinical-apps/pleural-drainage-pleff/
- Published: 2020-02-19T22:51:46+00:00
- Author: Developer

Percutaneous pleural drainage PLEFF is the third most commonly performed procedure
in the intensive care unit (ICU) after vascular catheterisation and tracheal intubation.

 Ultrasound guidance allows the operator to increase the rate of success of the 
procedure and reduce its associated risks. Consequently, usage of the ultrasound
guidance during pleural drainage has become mandatory.

 In addition to visualizing pleural effusion, thoracic ultrasound also helps clinicians
to identify the best puncture site and to guide the drainage insertion procedure.
Thoracic ultrasound is essential during these invasive manoeuvres to increase safety
and decrease potential life-threatening complications. 

### **Which ultrasound is best for pleural drainage?**

 [Doppler ultrasound ](https://sifsof.com/product-category/ultrasound-scanner/color-doppler-ultrasound-scanner/)
can be used to visualise intercostal vessels helping prevent vessel injury and ensure
a procedure with a low risk of bleeding, even in patients with abnormal pre-procedural
coagulation parameters.

 To Identify the best site for the puncture a low-frequency (3.5–5 MHz) convex proe
of the [SIFULTRAS-5.42](https://sifsof.com/product/double-head-wifi-color-ultrasound-scanner-sifultras-5-42-fda/)
ultrasound transducer is recommended to identify the best puncture site evaluating
these following steps. The probe should be used in the transverse position between
two ribs

 Then, the operator can _S_hift to the high-frequency (7–15 MHz) ultrasound transducer(
linear probe of the SIFULTRAS-5.42). The probe should be used in the transverse 
position between two ribs to identify the upper and lower borders of the needle 
insertion area.

 The puncture site and the needle trajectory must be carefully designed, with particular
attention to the depth required to reach the pleural fluid and avoid lung injuries.
In morbidly obese with limited rib palpation, linear probe can also be used to help
to be perpendicular and over the upper rib edge with great safety.

 The use of bedside ultrasound not only leads to an improvement in the diagnosis,
but also allows the detection of the best puncture site and the fluid quantification
of PLEFF. The positioning of percutaneous pleural drainage with ultrasound guidance
increases the procedure’s success rate and safety

  Ultrasound guidance allows the operator to better decide where to insert the pigtail.
The best puncture site is, in fact, the place where the operator can visualise each
anatomical structure (i.e., diaphragm, pleural, and organs) and where the operator
can measure the maximum distance between visceral and parietal pleural (increasing
the safety margin).

 Doctors in most specialties will be exposed to patients requiring pleural drainage
and need to be aware of safe techniques. Such as, [cardiologist](https://sifsof.com/product-category/doctor-specialties/cardiologist/),
[emergency doctor](https://sifsof.com/product-category/doctor-specialties/emergency-medicine-specialist/),
critical care specialist or [anesthesiologist](https://sifsof.com/product-category/doctor-specialties/anesthesiologist/)…

![](https://sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pleural_effusion_thoracentesis_ultrasound_training_model.
jpg)

 * ![wireless ultrasound scanner](https://sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/
   SIFULTRAS-5.42-double-head-wireless-ultrasound-300x300.webp)
 * Color Double Head Wireless Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-5.42 FDA
 * ![Color Doppler 3 in 1 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.31 main](https://
   sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SIFULTRAS-3.31-main-picture-300x300.jpg)
 * Color Doppler 3 in 1 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.31
 * ![Wireless 3 in 1 Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.3 Triple Headed: Convex, Linear
   and Cardiac Probe main pic](https://sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SIFULTRAS-
   3.3-main-picture-1-300x300.jpg)
 * 3 in 1 Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.3 Triple Headed: Convex, Linear and Cardiac

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_Disclaimer: Although the information we provide is used by different doctors and
medical staff to perform their procedures and clinical applications, the information
contained in this article is for consideration only. SIFSOF is not responsible neither
for the misuse of the device nor for the wrong or random generalizability of the
device in all clinical applications or procedures mentioned in our articles. Users
must have the proper training and skills to perform the procedure with each ultrasound
scanner device._

_The products mentioned in this article are only for sale to medical staff (doctors,
nurses, certified practitioners, etc.) or to private users assisted by or under 
the supervision of a medical professional.  _