Does chest tube location or size matter for tube thoracostomy in trauma patients?

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Cardiovascular diseases, Chest Tube, Featured Procedure, medical procedures
More Tags – chest tube, chest tube position, chest tube size, HPC updates, tube thoracostomy
Traditional teaching is that chest tubes placed to evacuate a pneumothorax should be directed anterior and superior and to evacuate fluid should be directed posterior and inferior. A recent study examined the effect of specific chest tube position on chest…
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Ultrasound-guided Tube Thoracostomy Improves Optimal Insertion Site Selection

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Cardiovascular diseases, Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, Featured, medical procedures
More Tags – chest tube, featured, HPC updates, tube thoracostomy, ultrasound
The optimal insertion site for tube thoracostomy is at the mid-axillary line in the triangle of safety.  This avoids any major nerves or arteries aside from the intercostal vessels.  Ultrasound-guided localization of this site performed better than palpation. In semi-elective…
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