Abstract

Chest tube insertion (also called tube thoracostomy) is one of the commonest procedures done in the emergency room by surgical residents. Proper placement of tube in the pleural space is essential to drain air, fluid, and/or blood adequately to decompress the lung and help it reexpand, which can be life-saving in some situations like tension pneumothorax. So surgical and emergency room residents must know the correct technique of chest tube insertion and connect it to underwater seal bag or bottle, with proper aseptic precautions. They must also be familiar with complications that can result from faulty technique of tube insertion, so that those complications can be avoided.

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