A chest tube is a surgical drain that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space or the mediastinum; insertion of the tube can be lifesaving. The tube can be used to remove air, in the case of pneumothorax, excess fluid, blood in the case of hemothorax, chyle in the case of chylothorax, or pus in the case of empyema, from the intrathoracic space. An intrapleural chest tube is also known as a Bulau drain or an intercostal catheter, and can either be a thin, flexible silicone tube or a larger, semi-rigid, fenestrated plastic tube, which often involves a flutter valve or underwater seal.
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Chest Tube
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Does a person usually stay in the hospital while a chest tube is in place?
Usually yes: most people stay in the hospital until the chest tube is removed.
Usually, yes. MedlinePlus states that after the procedure a person will most likely stay in the hospital until the chest tube is removed, although in some cases a person may go home with a chest tube. While the tube is in place, the health care provider carefully checks for air leaks and breathing problems, and for whether the person needs oxygen.
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Source Chest tube (Wikipedia)
Source Chest tube (Wikipedia)
Source Chest tube (Wikipedia)
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1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Chest tube (Wikipedia)
- Not widely used until the influenza epidemic of 1918, first documented by Dr. C. Pope, article intro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chest_tube, lead section
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.
Treats: Empyema, Lead: treats Empyema
The concept of chest drainage was first advocated by Hippocrates when he described the treatment of empyema by means of incision, cautery and insertion of metal tubes.
Treats: Pneumothorax, Lead: treats Pneumothorax
The tube can be used to remove air (pneumothorax), excess fluid (pleural effusion or hydrothorax), blood (hemothorax), chyle (chylothorax) or pus (empyema) from the intrathoracic space.
Treats: Pleural Effusion, Lead: treats Pleural Effusion
The tube can be used to remove air (pneumothorax), excess fluid (pleural effusion or hydrothorax), blood (hemothorax), chyle (chylothorax) or pus (empyema) from the intrathoracic space.
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