A chest tube insertion involves the surgical placement of a hollow, flexible drainage tube into the chest.
Alternative NamesChest drainage tube insertion; Insertion of tube into chest; Tube thoracostomy
DescriptionChest tubes are inserted to drain blood, fluid, or air and to allow the lungs to fully expand. The tube is placed between the ribs and into the space between the inner lining and the outer lining of the lung (pleural space).
The area where the tube will be inserted is numbed (local anesthesia). Sometimes sedation (medication to make you relaxed and sleepy) is also used. The chest tube is inserted through an incision between the ribs into the chest and is connected to a bottle or canister that contains sterile water. Suction is attached to the system for drainage. A stitch (suture) and adhesive tape keep the tube in place.
The chest tube usually stays in place until x-rays show that all the blood, fluid, or air has drained from the chest and the lung has fully re-expanded. When the chest tube is no longer needed, it can be easily removed. Most people don't need medications to sedate or numb them while the chest tube is removed. Antibiotics may be used to prevent or treat infection.
In certain people, the chest tube may be inserted using a minimally invasive technique guided by x-ray. Sometimes chest tubes are placed during major lung or heart surgery while the person is under general anesthesia.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedChest tubes are used to treat conditions that can cause the lung to collapse, such as:
Risks for any anesthesia are:
Risks for any surgery are:
Most people completely recover from the chest tube insertion and removal. There is only a small scar.
Outlook (Prognosis)You will stay in the hospital until the chest tube is removed. While the chest tube is in place, the nursing staff will carefully check for possible air leaks, breathing difficulties, and the need for additional oxygen. You'll need to breathe deeply and cough often to help re-expand the lung, assist with drainage, and prevent fluids from collecting in the lungs.
stat chest x-ray
a chest tube is used for the treatment of pnuemothorax or hemopnuemothorax..
3242232422 is listed under REMOVAL, not insertion. Insertion code (current) is 32551You need to do your own homework and look up the code in the CPT book.32422
Immediately apply sterile gauze over the chest tube insertion site and notify doctor.
thoracostomy or CTI
no
a standard chest tube is a hollow tube that inserts into the chest's pleural cavity. a trocar is a metal rod that's inside the chest tube, some doctors prefor the trocar for easier insertion through the intercostal muscles.
Fowler's position
maintain sterile technique.
No
Problems can arise in the insertion of the tube if the membrane lining the chest cavity is thick or if it has many adhesions. The tube will not drain correctly if the chest cavity contains blood clots or thick secretions.
If chest tube dislodges, apply pressure over the insertion site with a dressing that is tented on one side to allow for escape of air. If tube gets disconnected, cut the contaminated tip and reinsert a sterile connector and reattach to system or place tip in sterile water. To remove: pt does valsalva maneuver, chest tube is clamped and quickly removed by MD, occlusive dressing applied.