Chest Tube

Background

A thoracostomy tube is a hollow plastic tube or catheter that is used to drain air, fluid, pus, or blood from the intrathoracic space ( Fig. 15.1 ). The word “thoracostomy” combines the prefix “thoraco” meaning “chest wall” and the suffix “stomy” meaning “opening.” Thoracostomy tube may sometimes be referred to as a chest tube (the term that will be used throughout this chapter), intrapleural drain, or pigtail ( Fig. 15.2 ). The procedure to place the chest tube is called tube thoracostomy.