A patient diagnosed with a pleural effusion is very dyspneic. Which of the following procedures should the nurse anticipate assisting with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A thoracentesis is a procedure used to relieve dyspnea in a patient diagnosed with a pleural effusion by removing excess fluid from the pleural space using a needle and catheter inserted through the chest wall. A tracheostomy is a procedure used to create an artificial airway in the trachea and is typically used in cases of airway obstruction, not pleural effusion. Bronchoscopy is a procedure used to visualize the airways and obtain tissue samples for diagnosis; it is not typically used to relieve dyspnea in cases of pleural effusion. Pericardiocentesis is a procedure used to remove excess fluid from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart and is not typically used to relieve dyspnea in cases of pleural effusion.

A Patient Diagnosed with a Pleural Effusion Is Very Dyspneic