Chest tubes

• Chest atau thoracostomy tube may vary in size. The optimal location varies depending on whether air or fluid is to be evacuated; typically, anterosuperiorly for air and posteroinferiorly for effusion. Failure or drainage may secondary to malpositioning of tube withing an interlobar fissure, chest wall, or the lung. Other causes for inadequate drainage include kinking of the tube, or a tube side port in the chest wall.

• Ct may be helpfull if there is inadequate drainage and chest radiograph are nondiagnostics.

Michael IL, Robert J, McKenna JR. Medical management of thoracic surgery patient. Saunders Elsevier. 2010.