The Physician Removes Fluid from the Chest Cavity by Puncturing

Short Answer

The physician removes fluid from the chest cavity by puncturing through the space between the ribs. Using an aspirating needle attached to a syringe, the physician carefully passes the needle over the top of a rib, punctures through the chest tissues, and enters the pleural cavity. With the end of the needle in the chest cavity, the physician withdraws the fluid from the chest cavity by pulling back on the plunger of the syringe.
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