What it means
Normally it holds only a small amount of fluid that lets the lungs glide as they move, and its slight negative pressure keeps the lungs expanded. Air in this space is a pneumothoraxnoo-moh-THOR-aksAir in the space between a lung and the chest wall, which lets part or all of that lung collapse.pneum/o air, lungthorac/o chestFull entry ; extra fluid is a pleural effusionPLOOR-ul eh-FYOO-zhunA buildup of extra fluid in the pleural space, between the lining of the lung and the chest wall.Full entry . Either can collapse part of a lung and may be drained with a chest tubechest toobA tube placed through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain air, blood or fluid.Full entry or a needle (thoracentesisthor-uh-sen-TEE-sisA procedure in which a needle is passed through the chest wall to remove fluid or air from the space around a lung.thorac/o chest-centesis puncture to remove fluidFull entry ).
For the nurse
In a client with a chest tube, check that the drainage system stays below the chest, record the amount and type of drainage, and report sudden increases or new shortness of breath.
At a glance
| Spanish | espacio pleural |
|---|---|
| Also written | intrapleural space |
Related terms
pneumothorax
Air in the space between a lung and the chest wall, which lets part or all of that lung collapse.
chest tube
A tube placed through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain air, blood or fluid.
pleur/o
A word root that means the pleura, the thin two-layer covering of the lungs, or the side of the chest.
pleural effusion
A buildup of extra fluid in the pleural space, between the lining of the lung and the chest wall.
thoracentesis
A procedure in which a needle is passed through the chest wall to remove fluid or air from the space around a lung.