Thoracostomy tubes, also called chest tubes, are commonly present after transplantation or during donor care. The function of the thoracostomy tube is to provide a conduit for transporting fluid, gas, or blood from the pleural cavity to an attached drainage unit. Malfunction of the tube or parts of the unit assembly may lead to serious consequences and jeopardize transplant recipient recovery or donor organs. This review discusses the components of the thoracostomy tube and drainage unit assembly, normal operation, routine evaluation, and common problems that the organ procurement or transplantation coordinator may need to anticipate or treat.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GilbertTBMcGrathBJSobermanM. Chest tubes: Indications, placement, management and complications. J Intensive Care Med.1993;8:73–86.
TeplitzL. Update: Are milking and stripping chest tubes necessary?Focus Crit Care.1991;18:506–511.
4.
Lim-LevyFBablerSADeGroot-KosolcharoenJ. Is milking and stripping chest tubes really necessary. Ann Thorac Surg.1986;42:77–80.
5.
DuncanCEricksonHR. Pressures associated with chest tube stripping. Heart Lung.1982;11:166–171.
6.
PownerDJDarbyJMStuartSA. Recommendations for mechanical ventilation during donor care. Prog Transplant.2000;10:33–40.
7.
BishopMJBensonMSPiersonDJ. Carbon dioxide excretion via bronchopleural fistulas in adult respiratory distress syndrome. Chest.1987;91:400–402.
8.
PownerDJClineDRodmanGH. Effect of chest-tube suction on gas flow through a bronchopleural fistula. Crit Care Med.1985;13:99–101.
9.
PownerDJGrenvikA. Ventilatory management of life-threatening bronchopleural fistulae. Crit Care Med.1981;9:54–58.
10.
SchermerCRMattesonBDDemarestGB. A prospective evaluation of video-assisted thoracic surgery for persistent air lead due to trauma. Am J Surg.1999;177:480–484.
11.
PownerDJReichHS. Regulation of coagulation abnormalities and temperature in organ donors. Prog Transplant.2000;10:146–153.
12.
HoffmanWSTomaselloDNMacVaughH. Control of postcardiotomy bleeding with PEEP. Ann Thorac Surg.1982;34:71–73.
13.
IlabacaPAOchsnerJLMillsNL. Positive end-expiratory pressure in the management of the patient with a postoperative bleeding heart. Ann Thorac Surg.1980;30:281–284.
14.
MurphyDAFinlaysonDCCraverJM. Effect of positive end-expiratory pressure on excessive mediastinal bleeding after cardiac operations. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.1983;85:864–869.
