[Small Bore Chest Tube Management for Traumatic Hemothorax Patients More than 24 Hours after Injury].

ABSTRACT

Thoracic drainage with a 28 Fr or 32 Fr chest tube is recommended as an initial treatment for traumatic hemothorax, however the recommended drainage tube size is unknown when thoracic drainage becomes necessary more than 24 hours after injury. In this report, the experience with the application of a small bore tube (16 Fr or less) for 18 cases of hemothorax requiring thoracic drainage more than 24 hours after injury is presented. The complications observed in 2 of 8 patients with 8 Fr size and none of 10 patients with 16 Fr size. It was considered that 16 Fr size tube is enough to manage the hemothorax developed more than 24 hours after injury.