Retrospective

Veres Needle in the Pleural Space

Authors: COL DOUGLAS W. JENKINS JR., MC, USAFR CAPT, MICHAEL K. McKINNEY MC, USAF, MICHAEL W. SZPAK MD, JASPER L. BOOKER JR., MD

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Veres needle is designed to allow entry into body cavities without trauma to underlying organs. Its major use has been in the induction of a pneumoperitoneum for peritoneoscopy. An initial successful evaluation of its use was in the pleural space of dogs. A subsequent analysis of complications in 69 thoracenteses using the Veres needle and 152 thoracenteses using a conventional needle favored the Veres needle (P = .05). We believe that the Veres needle is a safe and technically superior instrument for thoracentesis and that it deserves further application and study.

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References