===Choice of procedure===
Pigtail catheter insertion is an effective and safe method of draining pleural fluid. It is encouraged for use in all cases of pleural effusion requiring chest drain except for empyema and other loculated pleural effusions, where it has low success rates.<ref name="BediwyAmer2012">{{cite journal|last1=Bediwy|first1=Adel Salah|last2=Amer|first2=Hesham Galal|title=Pigtail Catheter Use for Draining Pleural Effusions of Various Etiologies|journal=ISRN Pulmonology|volume=2012|year=2012|pages=1–6|issn=2090-5777|doi=10.5402/2012/143295}} [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC-BY license]</ref>
{{Low risk of bleeding}}