What You Need To Expect From Chest Tube Procedure?

A chest tube is a tube made of plastic that drains fluid from the chest. The pleural space is the area between the lungs (the pleural space), that can become clogged with fluids or blood. This can lead to the collapse of the lung. Chest tubes can be inserted at the end of a surgical procedure while a patient is still asleep from anesthesia or at the bedside using a local pain killer and some sedation.

There are many sizes and shapes of chest tubes. They vary in size depending on their purpose. Most chest tubes are connected to drainage systems which collect fluid and allow air to escape. You can also schedule an appointment with a specialist for placing a thoracic drain tube after surgery.

You can either allow these systems to drain naturally or have suction applied. This procedure is designed to drain the pleural space. The fluid or air will be visible or felt by patients. Patients may often feel their collapsed lungs expanding again.

As with any surgery, bleeding and infection are the main risks associated with placing a chest tube. When placing a chest tube, doctors must be careful not to touch the blood vessels under the ribs. Examples of thoracic surgery include coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplant, lung transplant, and removal of parts of the lung affected by cancer.