pleuralkateter

A pleuralkateter, also known as a chest tube or thoracic drain, is a flexible plastic tube inserted through the chest wall into the pleural space. The pleural space is the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This procedure is performed to remove abnormal collections of fluid, pus, or air from this space.

Common reasons for inserting a pleuralkateter include the presence of a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), pleural effusion (fluid buildup around the lung), hemothorax (blood in the pleural space), or empyema (pus in the pleural space). It can also be used after thoracic surgery to drain residual fluid or air.

The insertion of a pleuralkateter is typically done under local anesthesia. The tube is then connected to a drainage system, which may use gravity or suction to remove the accumulated substance. The catheter remains in place until the condition it is treating has resolved, meaning the lung has re-expanded, the fluid or pus has been cleared, or the air leak has sealed. Once drainage has ceased, the catheter is usually removed.

While generally safe, potential complications can include pain at the insertion site, bleeding, infection, or injury to surrounding structures. The patient's condition and the reason for the catheter's placement will dictate the duration it remains in situ and the specific management protocols followed.