This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Indications for a chest drain

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Indications:

  • tension pneumothorax
  • traumatic pneumothorax or haemothorax
  • any pneumothorax causing respiratory distress, especially in the presence of pre-existing lung disease such as asthma or emphysema
  • any pneumothorax prior to anaesthesia or positive pressure ventilation
  • closed pneumothorax occupying more than 25% of the hemithorax

A chest drain is not indicated for:

  • surgical emphysema in the chest wall in the absence of a pneumothorax
  • prophylaxis

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.