Which procedure involves surgical puncture to remove fluid from the pleural space?

• A. Thoracentesis
• B. Sigmoidoscopy
• C. Sodium Levels
• D. Skin Biopsy

Answer: (A)

Removing fluid from the pleural space is accomplished by thoracentesis, a procedure that punctures the chest wall to access the pleural cavity for drainage and analysis of the fluid. It’s used to diagnose the cause of pleural effusion and to relieve breathing difficulty when fluid accumulates. The other options don’t fit because sigmoidoscopy examines the sigmoid colon, sodium levels are just a lab value, and a skin biopsy samples skin tissue—none involve puncturing the pleural space or removing pleural fluid.