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Residency Program > Residency Program > Resident Resources > NEJM - Chest-Tube Insertion

NEJM - Chest-Tube Insertion

Shelly P. Dev, M.D., Bartolomeu Nascimiento, Jr., M.D., Carmine Simone, M.D., and Vincent Chien, M.D.
N Engl J Med 2007; 357:e15 | October 11, 2007

About the Procedure

The insertion of a pleural chest tube is often done in a setting where immediate action is required. Nonetheless, adherence to sterility, analgesia, sound technique, and safety are always warranted. Indications The most common indications for chest-tube drainage are: Pneumothorax that is recurrent, persistent, under tension, or bilateral; any pneumothorax in a patient on positive-pressure ventilation; hemothorax; recurrent or symptomatic large pleural effusion; empyema; and chylothorax. Contraindications There are relative contraindications, mainly based on hematologic abnormalities such as bleeding diatheses or coagulopathy. Blood products or coagulation factors may need to be transfused in order to reduce the . . . .

 

 

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