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The enigma of removing a chest tube in thoracic trauma

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Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Injuries are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality around the world, and their burden is expected to rise dramatically by the year 2020. Tube thoracostomy is the most widely performed procedure for management of blunt and penetrating chest traumas and has a pivotal role in their management. Chest tube (Ct) drain output is the main determinant in the management and removal of chest tube. The present study was conducted to correlate drainage volume with timing of chest tube removal, with an aim to establish a safe drainage volume for chest tube removal.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted after ethical clearance in a tertiary care hospital on 150 patients of blunt thoracic trauma who underwent tube thoracostomy for hemopneumothorax between August 2011 and December 2012. Patients were planned for sequence randomization in three groups, viz. group A, group B, and group C, in which chest tubes were planned to be removed at a drainage output of 50 ml in group A, 100 ml drainage output in group B, and 150 ml drainage output in group C, with 50 patients in each group.

Result

Rate of re-accumulation after chest tube removal did not differ significantly among the three groups (p > 0.05). Total significant re-accumulation rate (for which aspiration was required) was 5.8 % in group A, 5.7 % in group B, and 5.8 % in group C, respectively

Conclusion

Drainage volume of 150 ml at the time of chest tube removal has no impact on re-accumulation and is not associated with any increase in morbidity. It is associated with a shorter hospital stay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Pt.B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Doctors Hostel, Room No. 250, Rohtak, Haryana, 124001, India

    Mayank Tripathi, Rajesh Yadav, Rajender Kumar Karwasra & Sanjeev Parshad

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  1. Mayank Tripathi
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  2. Rajesh Yadav
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  3. Rajender Kumar Karwasra
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  4. Sanjeev Parshad
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Correspondence to Mayank Tripathi.

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Tripathi, M., Yadav, R., Karwasra, R.K. et al. The enigma of removing a chest tube in thoracic trauma. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 31, 148–152 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-015-0363-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-015-0363-8

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