MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Chest tube insertion

Skip navigation

Medical Encyclopedia

Chest tube insertion - series: Indication

Chest tube insertion - seriesIllustrations:

Normal anatomy

Indication

Procedure

Aftercare

If fluid, such as blood, or air, gets into the pleural space, the lung can collapse, preventing adequate air exchange. Chest tubes are used to treat conditions that can cause the lung to collapse, such as:

air leaks from the lung into the chest (pneumothorax)
bleeding into the chest (hemothorax)
after surgery or trauma in the chest (pneumothorax or hemothorax)
lung abscesses or pus in the chest (empyema).

Update Date: 8/10/2007

Updated by: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.