A chest tube is a flexible tube that is placed through the chest wall into the space around the lung, which is called the pleural space. It drains air, blood, fluid or pus that is pressing on the lung so the lung can expand again. It is used for a collapsed lung, bleeding after injury, fluid around the lung, infection of the pleural space and after chest surgery.

At Apex, the procedure is done under local anaesthetic, using sterile technique and often ultrasound guidance when fluid is being drained. The tube is connected to a drainage system that lets air and fluid out but not back in, and progress is checked with chest X-rays. In an ICU hospital in Mumbai setting, the team can manage any change in breathing straight away.

How the Procedure Can Help

It relieves pressure on the lung, improves breathing and oxygen levels, and allows the team to treat the cause of the problem.

Risks and Considerations

Possible risks include pain, bleeding, infection, blockage or slipping of the tube, injury to the lung or a nearby organ and, after a long period of compression, a sudden rush of fluid into the lung. The tube is removed when drainage has stopped and the lung stays expanded.