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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 40(03): 386-393
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1694769
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Chest Tube Drainage Devices

Jennifer W. Toth
1   Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
,
Michael F. Reed
2   Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
,
Lauren K. Ventola
1   Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
16 September 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Placement of a chest tube drains intrapleural fluid and air. The tube should be attached to a drainage system, such as one-, two-, or three-compartment devices, a one-way (Heimlich) valve for ambulatory drainage, a digital system, or a vacuum bottle. The frequently employed three-compartment systems, currently integrated disposable units, allow adjustment of negative pressure or no suction (water seal), and include an air leak meter on the water seal chamber to be used for demonstrating and quantifying air leak. These readings are subjective and prone to interobserver variability. Digital pleural drainage systems offer the benefits of quantification of any air leak and pleural pressure. Indwelling pleural catheters, typically utilized for malignant pleural effusion, can be drained using vacuum bottles. Knowledge of the design and functionality of each device in the setting of an individual patient's specific pleural process facilitates the selection of practical and financially prudent chest tube drainage strategies.

Keywords

chest tube - pleural drainage system - digital drainage systems - tube thoracostomy - pleural catheters - air leak - pleural effusion
 

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