It is a procedure where doctor removes excess abnormal fluid accumulated in the chest.

This fluid can be removed for 2 reason

Therapeutic and Diagnostic

Therapeutic as in when there is excessive fluid in the chest which causes discomfort in breathing, eating and pain. This usually takes anywhere between 30 mins to 1 hrs depending on the amount of fluid to be removed. Maximum fluid removal recommended is 1 to 1.5 litres. As more fluid removal can have adverse effect.

Diagnostic as in where small amount of fluid is removed to ascertain the reason for fluid accumulation. This usually takes 15mins and fluid removed will be around 10ml to 100ml