Rev Esp Enferm Dig
September 2001
Objective: To study the complications of thoracentesis, either diagnostic or therapeutic, in cirrhotic patients with pleural effusion.
Experimental Design: A cohort prospective study. A diagnostic thoracentesis was performed at admission or when spontaneous bacterial empyema was suspected; a therapeutic thoracentesis was conducted in patients with dyspnea that did not improve with medical treatment.