to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. ...

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Note added at 15 Min. (2016-09-09 20:44:31 GMT)
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a synonym for peural puncture is "Thoracentesis" (pleural puncture), to treat a pleural effusion or a Pneumothorax ...

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Note added at 25 Min. (2016-09-09 20:55:06 GMT)
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another formulation would be "the Patient had been subjected to a pleural puncture or a thoracentesis "

Definition: A pleural effusion is defined as “an excess amount of fluid in the pleural space” (Kumar & Clark 2009) cited by The Royal Marsden (2011) page 557.
Therapeutic pleuracentesis (chest drainage) is performed to relieve the discomfort associated with this condition.
http://documents.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/TSDFT/Pleural (c...

pleurocentesis (thoracentesis, thoracocentesis) (ploor-oh-sen-tee-sis) n. the insertion of a hollow needle into the pleural cavity through the chest wall in order to withdraw fluid, blood, pus, or air.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pleurocentesis.html

Pleural tap; Thoracentesis
Definition
Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest. Normally, very little fluid is present in this space. An accumulation of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura is called a pleural effusion.

Alternative Names
Pleural fluid aspiration; Pleural tap; Thoracentesis
http://lungcancer.ucla.edu/adm_proc_pleural.html