Two patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the mid-1980s and who had repeat coronary artery bypass graft procedures in 1992 developed loculated, bloody pleural effusions. Percutaneous catheter drainage and installation of intrapleural urokinase led to resolution of these loculated effusions without morbidity. This procedure should reduce the length of hospitalization and treatment for patients with loculated pleural effusions.