Feb 24, 2022 · A chest tube thoracostomy — or chest tube insertion — is an emergency, life-saving procedure that can be done when there’s air or fluid in your chest cavity, affecting your ability to...

Oct 3, 2022 · Physicians use a chest tube to create negative pressure in the chest cavity and allow lung re-expansion. It helps remove air (pneumothorax), blood (hemothorax), fluid (pleural effusion or hydrothorax), chyle (chylothorax), or purulence …

A chest tube (also chest drain, thoracic catheter, tube thoracostomy or intercostal drain) is a surgical drain that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space or the mediastinum. The insertion of the tube is sometimes a lifesaving procedure.

Chest tube thoracostomy (tho¯r-e-’kas-te-me¯), commonly referred to as “putting in a chest tube”, is a procedure that is done to drain fluid, blood, or air from the space around the lungs.

Oct 10, 2023 · A chest tube is a hollow plastic tube that is surgically inserted into the chest cavity to drain air or fluid. Different types of fluid, such as blood, pus, or cancer cells, can accumulate in the chest due to trauma, surgery, cancer, or infection.

Nov 20, 2024 · What Is a Chest Tube? A chest tube is a plastic tube that is used to drain fluid or air from the chest. Air or fluid (for example blood or pus) that collects in the space between the lungs and chest wall (the pleural space) can cause the lung to collapse.

Jun 16, 2018 · Doctors may need to use a chest tube for many purposes, such as inflating a collapsed lung, draining fluid or blood, or delivering medications. This article explains how chest tubes work,...

Apr 16, 2023 · A chest tube is a hollow, flexible tube placed into the chest. It acts as a drain. Chest tubes drain blood, fluid, or air from around your lungs, heart, or esophagus.

May 31, 2023 · Thoracostomy is a procedure where a surgeon makes an incision (cut) and inserts a tube into your chest. A chest tube drains air or fluid from your pleural space — the space between the thin membranes (pleurae) that line your chest wall and lungs.

Make an edit and help make WikEM better for everyone. This page is for adult patients. For pediatric patients, see: chest tube (peds) No absolute contraindications when performed for emergent indication. Left pleura cavity (viewed from left) showing intercostal bundles (vein, artery, and nerve) directly under the ribs.