How to perform a thoracocentesis in a cat | VETgirl Veterinary CE Videos

Summary

The video demonstrates thoracentesis (thoracocentesis) in a cat with breathing difficulty. The procedure can be life-saving: it helps diagnose pleural effusion and relieve it. In the example, the cat’s breathing improves substantially after fluid is removed.

Procedure and Key Lessons

• Provide flow-by oxygen to a dyspneic cat while preparing for the procedure.
• If available, use FAST ultrasound to look for pleural fluid and identify a suitable drainage site. In the demonstration, the fluid appears as a large, dark pocket.
• Prepare sterile equipment. The demonstrator uses a three-way stopcock, butterfly catheter, and syringe.
• Choose the entry site carefully: aim for the 7th to 9th intercostal space, inserting just cranial to the rib to avoid blood vessels and nerves.
• Remove as much pleural fluid as possible to improve the cat’s comfort. In the example, the fluid is markedly bloody, so it is collected in sterile 60 mL syringes in case an autotransfusion is needed.
• When available, recheck with FAST ultrasound to assess how much fluid remains.
• Do not let the lack of ultrasound prevent treatment. The narrator advises proceeding with thoracentesis when pleural effusion is suspected in a dyspneic cat, even if FAST ultrasound is unavailable.
• Sedation is often unnecessary; the narrator says cats generally tolerate the procedure relatively well without it.
• Monitor the cat’s clinical response. After drainage, the cat breathes more comfortably and no longer has the same short, shallow breathing pattern.

Speakers and Sources

• VETgirl video narrator/instructor: Provides the demonstration and procedural guidance; no individual name is given.
• Patient shown: A cat undergoing the procedure; it does not speak.