Chest Tube Thoracostomy

This procedure plays a vital role in managing pneumothorax, hemothorax, or pleural effusion by inserting a flexible tube for draining air, blood, or fluid. Continuous monitoring and meticulous care are imperative for ensuring effective drainage. Healthcare providers remain vigilant, promptly addressing complications to guarantee optimal patient recovery and preserve respiratory function.
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Why Do I Need a Chest Tube?

Common reasons why a chest tube is needed include:

  • Pneumothorax: A chest tube may be required to treat a pneumothorax, where air accumulates in the pleural space, causing a lung to collapse..
  • Hemothorax: In cases of hemothorax, where there is blood accumulation in the pleural cavity, a chest tube helps drain the blood and restore normal lung function.
  • Pleural Effusion: Chest tubes are often necessary for draining excess fluid in the pleural space, a condition known as pleural effusion.
  • Post-Surgery Drainage:Following certain chest or cardiac surgeries, a chest tube may be inserted to facilitate drainage and prevent the accumulation of fluids in the pleural space.
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Risks of Chest Tube Insertion:

  • Infection: There is a risk of infection at the insertion site or within the pleural space, requiring careful sterile techniques during the procedure.
  • Bleeding: Chest tube insertion carries the potential for bleeding, particularly if there is an injury to blood vessels during the procedure..
  • Pain and Discomfort:Patients may experience pain or discomfort at the insertion site or in the chest area following the procedure.
  • Vasovagal Reaction: Some individuals may experience a vasovagal reaction, resulting in dizziness, fainting, or a drop in blood pressure during or after the procedure.

Will there be any pain or possible complications when the chest tube is removed?

When the doctor determines that you no longer need the chest tube, it will be removed. Usually, it can be taken out right at your bedside. There rarely is a need for sedation medication. You will be told how to breathe as the tube is being pulled. A secure bandage will be put in place. You will be told when the bandage can be removed. Often, a follow-up chest X-ray will be done to make sure that fluid or air hasn’t come back. Generally, there are no complications from the chest tube once it has been removed. You will only have a small scar. Chest tube insertion is a relatively safe procedure when done by Dr. Parthiv shah who is a pleural effusion specialist in Mumbai

What happens when the chest tube is in?

Most people will need to stay in the hospital the entire time the chest tube is in. You will be checked often for possible air leaks, plugging of the tube, and any breathing problems you may be having. Usually, you will be able to breathe more comfortably with the tube in place. Sometimes pain around the area where the tube enters the chest may cause you to take more shallow breaths. The nurse or doctor will tell you how much you can move around with the chest tube in place. Less and less fluid drainage in the collection device often means your lungs are improving. Sometimes the tube is clamped and left in place to make sure no fluid or air comes back before it is pulled out.

Chest tube insertion

Fluid or air in the chest that needs to be drained is identified using chest imaging such as chest X-ray, chest ultrasound, or chest CT scan. If the X-ray shows a need for a chest tube thoracostomy to drain fluid or air, the procedure is likely to be done by a surgeon, a pulmonary/critical care physician, or an interventional radiologist. Often an adult or older child remains awake when a chest tube is inserted, except when it in place in the operating room during an open chest procedure. Sometimes a person, particularly a younger child, is given a small amount of medicine (a sedative) that causes sleepiness before a chest tube is inserted. The skin will be thoroughly cleaned. A local anesthetic (numbing) medication will be injected into the skin and in the tissue along the path between the ribs that the tube will follow. A cut (incision) from ¾ inch to 1½ inches long, between the ribs (the exact location depends on what is being drained and its location in the lungs). The chest tube is inserted and will be stitched into place to prevent it from slipping out. An airtight sterile dressing bandage is placed over the insertion site. The chest tube will be connected to a drainage collection device (usually a clear plastic container that rests on the floor). Often it is attached to suction to help draw out the air or fluid. Get treatment for pleural effusion by Dr Parthiv Shah- Pleural effusion specialist in mumbai.
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