Chest tube

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Chest tube

A Chest tube (pronounced: /tʃɛst tuːb/), also known as a thoracic catheter, is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space or mediastinum. It is used to remove air (pneumothorax), fluid (pleural effusion, hemothorax, empyema), or pus from the intrathoracic space. It is also known as a Bülau drain or an intercostal drain.

Etymology

The term "Chest tube" is derived from the English words "chest" (from Old English "cist", meaning box) and "tube" (from Latin "tubus", meaning pipe). The term "Bülau drain" is named after the German surgeon Friedrich Bülau who introduced the concept of closed chest drainage in the late 19th century.

Procedure

The procedure to insert a chest tube is called a thoracostomy. It is usually performed under local anesthesia. The tube is typically inserted between the ribs into the pleural space, and it is connected to a one-way valve system that lets air and fluid out but not in. When the cause of the problem is resolved, the tube is removed.

Related terms

  • Thoracostomy: The procedure of inserting a chest tube.
  • Pleural effusion: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.
  • Pneumothorax: The presence of air or gas in the pleural space.
  • Hemothorax: The accumulation of blood in the pleural space.
  • Empyema: The accumulation of pus in the pleural space.
  • Mediastinum: The central compartment of the thoracic cavity.

External links

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