Thoracentesis: Symptoms and Prediction of the Need for Therapeutic Thoracentesis

Recurrent fluid surrounding the lungs is associated with poor quality of life, the main symptom being dyspnea. These patients are in need of recurrent removal of the fluid using drainage. The mechanism causing dyspnea is not fully understood. By using ultrasound to evaluate the movement of the diaphragm before and after removal of fluid and the patients symptoms before removal of fluid and until next removal the research group aims to clarify the temporal development in symptoms and the role of the diaphragm. The researchers will also evaluate the ability of the pulmonologist and patient to predict when the patient will need the next removal of fluid in patients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion.