What is the term used for the procedure where a doctor withdraws fluid from the chest cavity?

The correct term for the procedure where a doctor withdraws fluid from the chest cavity is thoracentesis. This procedure involves using a needle and syringe to extract fluid from the pleural space, which is the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Thoracentesis is commonly performed to help diagnose conditions that may cause fluid accumulation, such as infections, cancers, or heart failure, and it can also provide symptom relief by removing excess fluid that may be causing difficulty in breathing.

In contrast, thoracotomy refers to a surgical procedure that involves making an incision in the chest wall to gain access to the thoracic organs, which is a much more invasive procedure and not specifically for fluid withdrawal. Pleuritic drainage is not a standard term used in medical practice; while it may imply draining fluid from the pleura, it does not refer to a specific procedure like thoracentesis does. Chest tube placement is a procedure used to insert a tube into the chest cavity to drain air or fluid, but it is generally used for longer-term management of such issues and does not specifically describe the act of withdrawing fluid using a needle. Thus, thoracentesis is the most accurate term for the procedure in question.